TAMPA, Fla. -- In Academy of Art tennis' first match of the Florida road trip, the Urban Knights saw initial success in doubles and singles action, but No. 14 Tampa overcame their early deficit and took the contest with a 5-2 final score at the Naimoli & Young Family Tennis Complex.

The Knights dominated doubles play, as the squad swept the Spartans to secure the first point of the day. Freshman Amelija Supulniece and junior Erica Hellbe kicked it off for ART U, taking down Julie Ball and Victoria Sanchez 6-3 on Court 1. Clinching the point for the Knights shortly after were junior Paulina Alvarez and senior Viktoria Leth, who defeated Anine Wilberg and Savannah Williams on Court 3, taking the match 6-3 as well. Finishing off their doubles match were freshman Estelle Najean and sophomore Jessica Plazas, who took the win against Nicole Cierniak and Kristina Miletic on Court 2 with a 6-4 score.

Plazas continued to be a strong force for the Knights on Court 2 in singles, as she won her fourth-straight singles contest, triumphing in nine of 10 on the year. Plazas defeated Sanchez 6-1, 6-1 to begin singles action for the team, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead. 

Tampa, however, found the scoreboard thereafter and never looked back, taking the next five singles matches. Although multiple Knights forced trouble for the Spartans such as Najean pushing her first game to 7-5, each member of ART U could not overcome UT in the close matches.

The Knights will continue their road trip and next take on Embry-Riddle on Mar. 28, with a 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) start at the Crotty Tennis Complex in Daytona Beach, Fla.