Montana State Billings Box | Western New Mexico Box
Phoenix, AZ -- Academy of Art University Women's Tennis is officially off to the best start in program history. After taking two more victories in the Grand Canyon Tournament both by final scores of 8-1, the Urban Knights will return home to the Bay Area with a perfect 5-0 record intact.
"We played solid tennis again; our singles and doubles play went well," Coach Peach said. "The Urban Knights were tired after playing two straight days, but they went out on the court with good footwork and ran well. Everyone had great moments!"
ART U started Saturday by taking it to head coach Jerry Peach's former team, Montana State Billings. The Knights' first singles team of
Daniela Amelunge Antelo continued to excel, winning 8-1 to start it off.
Kinga Kurczbuch and
Jenny Johansson took down their opponents 8-2, and
Sarah Lemp combined with
Tamara Kenia to win 8-4 to sweep the doubles play.
After the break, five of six Knights secured straight sets victories in singles play.
Lucia Zavarcikova (6-1, 6-2), Michelle Dandik (6-1, 6-1), and
Amal Ben El Hadj (6-0, 6-0) cruised through the first, second, and third singles, respectively. Madeline Loomis of Montana State dropped Kurczbuch for the lone ART U loss, while Lemp (6-2, 6-1) and Kenia (6-1, 6-1) made up for it by defeating their opponents and secure the victory.
More success came against Western New Mexico, whom Academy of Art out-toughed all the way through. In addition, ART U swept executed its fourth consecutive doubles sweep to end the tournament, with Amelunge Antelo and Gajdosikova's 8-6 match proving to be the most spirited competition.
They added many highlights coming from freshman
Michelle Dandik Zaale's dramatic three-setter at #2 singles. After Gajdosikova fell in a closely-contested first match 7-6, 4-6, Dandik Zaale hit her high (6-4), and her low (1-6), before storming to a 10-7 win over Ashley Newell. Zavarcikova (6-1, 6-0), Amelunge Antelo (6-1, 6-4), Ben El Hadj (6-0, 6-1), and Johansson (6-0, 6-0) rounded out the day and the competition for the Urban Knights.
"This was a tough match," Coach Peach said. "Western New Mexico won the RMAC in 2012 and had a great year. Every singles match was a challenge. WNM's Tiurina, at #1, is a really good player. Nina played super in a great effort to win her match. Michelle won the first set, withstood a furious comeback by her opponent, and won in a well-played tie-break for the third set. Urban Knight doubles play was easily the best of the tournament during this match!"
For the complete weekend in Phoenix, Academy of Art won 41 of 45 total matches, and will more than likely improve on their #37 rank that they garnered to start the year. They play again in two weeks, facing two tough opponents in Fresno Pacific (Feb. 21) and Cal State Stanislaus (Feb. 23). Both matchups will be at the San Francisco Tennis Club.
