SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Academy of Art is going to the PacWest Championship finals. For the second straight year, the Urban Knights will compete for a conference title against No. 11 Hawaii Pacific. The opportunity comes after a dramatic come from behind singles win by senior Alma Thell-Lenntorp to lift ART U to a triumphant 4-3 victory over No. 32 Sonoma State, Friday afternoon at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.

The only doubles game decided by more than two points came first. Seniors Alma Thell-Lenntorp and Klara Thell-Lenntorp defeated Jensyn Warren and Carolyn Brooner for the third time this season by way of a 6-1 score. After ART U dropped the match in the third position, the game was tied and it was looking bleak for ART U. Seniors Paula Alcantara and Taisiia Andrieieva faced a 5-2 deficit, but after battling point after point, the first comeback of the day began to take shape. Alcantara and Andrieieva tied the game at six and sent it into tiebreaker where they emerged victorious to secure an important doubles point for ART U.

In singles, Alcantara breezed to a quick 6-1, 6-2 win, but SSU took the next two games to tie the match 2-2. Junior Mariacristina Andrisani broke the tie by winning back-to-back 6-2 sets to give the Urban Knights a 3-2 advantage, but another Seawolves victory evened it up and brought the match down to the final game -- A. Thell-Lenntorp versus Clarisa Colling. Colling took the first set 7-5 and held an early lead in the second, but Alma fought back to take the second set 7-5 and push the match into the final set. A revitalized Alma overpowered Colling in the third set and clinched the game and match with a tenacious, triumphant 6-0 victory.  

The tenacious victory sends Academy of Art back to the finals of the PacWest Championship, where for the second straight year they will meet Hawaii Pacific. First serve is at 1 p.m. and will be held at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.