MATCH #16
ART U (8-6) vs. Cal State Stanislaus (3-2)
March 25, 2012 at 1:00 PM
San Francisco, CA -- San Francisco Tennis Club

MATCH #17
ART U (8-6) vs. CSU Los Angeles (8-4)
March 29, 2012 at 10:00 AM
San Francisco, CA -- San Francisco Tennis Club

OPENING SERVE
The Knights had their singles streak halted against Division I San Jose State, and then had their match against Dixie State cancelled because of inclement weather last week. Despite their loss, the Urban Knights are now ranked No. 7 in the West Region, according to the ITA rankings on March 21, with Kunkanda "Cartoon" Phukchampa rating as the No. 13 singles player in the region. Phukchampa and Amal Ben El Hadj also come in as the No. 6 doubles team in the region as well.

THERE'S A STORM COMIN'
The wet weather in the Bay Area has been causing problems all of March, raining on Dixie State's road trip to the region last week, with all three of their matches cancelled. Dominican, Notre Dame de Namur, and Academy of Art have all had weather-affected matches, with the Knights match against San Jose State cut short because of the rain as well. The forecast is bleak, with a 60% chance of rain, but the Urban Knights are hopeful that they'll get their matches in.

ROAD WARRIORS: THE SEQUEL
The Knights last loss before their five game winning streak was against the Warriors of Cal State Stanislaus. Since then, ART U has gone 5-1, with an overall score of 42-10. Stanislaus has only played one match since then, falling to Fresno Pacific 5-4. Stanislaus is led by Verena Preikschas, who is ranked No. 5 in the region in singles, while her doubles team, including partner Katie Eng, is ranked No. 4.

HONOR ROLL ONCE MORE
A week after being named the PacWest Women's Tennis Player of the Week, Kunkanda Phukchampa found herself back on the PacWest Top 10 Honor Roll, posting a 2-0 record for matches played March 5-11. This included the Knights matchups between Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur, when Phukchampa went 2-0 in first singles and first doubles. It was her second honor of the year, and her fifth career appearance on the Honor Roll.

HOLDING ON TO WHAT'S GOLDEN
The Golden Eagles are riding high, ranked No. 18 in the country, according to the most recent ITA poll (Feb. 29). Currently they're No. 4 in the West Region, with Christie Lau leading the singles pack at No. 6 in the west. Lau and doubles partner Larn McShane are the third-ranked pair. The Golden Eagles are coming off a tough loss to Fresno Pacific, but before that had won four matches in a row. This marks the first time these two teams have ever matched up.

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN
Academy of Art's own Cecilia Hedin was recently featured on the PacWest Magazine Radio Show last week, highlighting her off-season training activities last year, which included running in the New York Marathon AND climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Kilimanjaro rises 19,341 feet above sea level, and Hedin finished the hike in seven days.

ON THE DOCKET
The Knights next matchup will be against Sonoma State on April 7, and then they will travel to Dominican to take on the Lady Penguins on April 10. The next day, April 11, they host Notre Dame de Namur at home.