Match Results

Rohnert Park, CA -- In a match that harkened back to the Urban Knights first wins of the spring season, the Academy of Art women's tennis team ground out a tough and gutsy 5-4 victory over Sonoma State at the SSU Tennis Courts. After falling behind 2-1 following doubles play, the Knights rebounded with four straight singles wins to steal a win from the Sea Wolves for the first time in four tries in program history.

"We went into singles down 1-2 which is where you have to be to have a fighting chance,” head coach Jerry Peach said. “You get one of three doubles and the match is winnable, but it is a long haul.  So we parlayed our doubles win with wins at 1-4 and it doesn't get any closer than that.”

The Knights looked be in trouble after their doubles, despite Kunkanda "Cartoon" Phukchampa and Jenny Johansson, elevated to first doubles again while Amal Ben El Hadj battled illness, winning the first match 8-4. Diane Phan and Daniela Amelunge Antelo lost 8-5, and Sarah Lemp and Cecilia Hedin dropped a close one 8-6. Heading into singles play, the Knights had to get into that long haul that Coach Peach was talking about.

"We were down 3-1 in singles play and, all of a sudden, Cartoon was back on track at one, Dani really stood up at two, Jenny continued to play wonderful tennis, and Diane had a solid day," said Peach. "We still have room to improve and it has been a tough year for our doubles, but my hat goes off to the team because they had to hang in there to get a chance."

Phukchampa lost her first set 4-6, but stormed back to defeat Megan White 6-4, 6-4 in the next two sets to take the match. Amelunge Antelo put down Krista Cole 6-3, 6-4. Jenny Johansson won her match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, notching her ninth win in her last ten times on the court and all of a sudden the Knights were up 4-2 with only one match needed to clinch the win. Diane Phan set out to win the match and the day for the Knights against Sheena Johnson, and did just that, getting a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Sonoma State won the final two matches, but the damage was done and the Knights clinched the hard-fought 5-4 victory.

"You get better when the team wins close matches,” Coach Peach said. “We still have room to improve and it has been a tough year for our doubles, but my hat goes off to the team because they had to hang in there to get a chance. You've got to play these types of matches and you've got to win them. Today's match might be what we need for rest of the year.”

The Knights will start the second round of the Best in the Bay series, playing again on April 10th against Dominican and then April 11th at home against Notre Dame de Namur. ART U defeated both teams earlier this year.