Match Results (WNMU)
Match Results (CUH)

Glendale, AZ -- Just call them the Weekend Warriors. The Urban Knights ground out another tough win in their Saturday opener at the Grand Canyon Tournament, defeating Western New Mexico 5-4 in the morning match. Then they followed that with their third 5-4 win in four matches, this time over Chaminade, to hand the Swords their first loss of the year and to even up their own record at 3-3.

"I'm impressed. The Urban Knights won two 5-4 matches," said head coach Jerry Peach. "In college tennis, this is the same thing as winning two overtime basketball games in the same day. Again, the lesson learned today is simple: Win two of three doubles and your chances of winning the entire team match gets better."

The matchup against the Mustangs started out in doubles play with Kunkanda "Cartoon" Phukchampa and Amal Ben El Hadj dominating their match against Ganna Tiurina and Nikolina Vukadin 8-2. Ashley Newell and Doris Berberic won the second match in another battle 8-6 for Western New Mexico, and the third doubles matchup saw Cecilia Hedin and Correa Fe for ART U earn an 8-3 win over Dena Irvin and Davida Aragorn for WNMU.

Phukchampa lost her match against Western New Mexico's #1, Tiurina, 6-4, 6-1. ART U's Ben El Hadj came back and defeated Vukadin 6-1, 7-5 in the second match, but the Mustangs took the third match as well in a marathon battle between WNM's Newell and Academy of Art's Kinga Kurczbuch, who dropped the contest 6-4, 7-5. However, Jenny Johansson (6-1, 6-1) and Correa Fe (6-2, 6-3) rebounded for the Urban Knights before Western New Mexico took the final singles match. In the end, the Knights emerged victorious, winning 5-4.

"We learned the lesson of college tennis," said Coach Peach. "Win two of three doubles, you will win tight team matches. The doubles points pulled us through."

Against the Silverswords, Phukchampa and Ben El Hadj played a great match together, defeating their opponents 8-3 in the first set. Kurczbuch and Johansson dropped their match, and Lemp and Correa Fe defeated Isel Barba and Shayla Hosaka handily, 8-2, to secure the doubles win for the Urban Knights.

In the singles, things looked bleak early as the Urban Knights dropped their first three matches. Phukchampa lost a nailbiter (5-7, 3-6), and Ben El Hadj also played well (4-6, 3-6). But the #3-#6 spots for the Knights stepped in and took over, as Johansson (6-2, 6-2), Correa Fe (6-0, 6-0), and Sarah Lemp (6-0, 6-1) came out on top.

"In this match, the lower end of the line-up carried the day to add to the doubles play for the win," said Peach. "Freshmen Sarah Lemp and Jenny Johansson stood up and were counted. The Urban Knights are playing more like a team with each match," said head coach Jerry Peach. "The girls are pulling for each other well. Our play in the future has to start from this match."