Match Results

San Rafael, CA - After three straight years of dropping their quarterfinal match, the Urban Knights women's tennis team broke through and pushed into the semifinals of the PacWest Championship with a chance to finish above fifth place for the first time in program history. The Knights rode strong doubles play and a solid showing from their singles slate to garner a 5-1 win over Chaminade, and will move on to a tough second round matchup, a rematch of Tuesday's tilt with #1-ranked and top PacWest seed BYU-Hawaii in the semifinals.

"It has been my expectation for our team to be in the top half of the conference," said head coach Jerry Peach. "I know we are in new territory for this program, but I feel like our team is still capable of achieving more."

The tournament format works on a first-to-five basis, with doubles play happening first and then the singles play usually dictating the rest of the match. The Urban Knights lost the opening doubles match to Yanita Arnadouva and Yuka Kondo by a score of 8-3. But Daniela Amelunge Antelo and Amal Ben El Hadj defeated Natalie Phanphengdy and Jan Matsumoto 8-4, and Diane Phan teamed up with Paola Correa Fe to earn the all-important tie-breaker out of doubles by a score of 8-1 to head into singles play up 2-1. Despite that, the Knights' coach still saw room to improve.

"I felt like we played about 65 percent today and left 35 percent on the table which was unfortunate because we have a lot of potential and we want to put it together," said Peach. "Our goal needs to be to work just as hard as our opponent."

Academy of Art got closer to realizing that potential after singles play. Since the first three to finish would decide the match, the clinching factor could have came from any of the six players on the court. The top three singles players, Kunkanda "Cartoon" Phukchampa, Ben El Hadj, and Amelunge Antelo didn't get a chance to finish their matches. That's because Jenny Johansson defeated Phanphengdy 6-2, 6-1 to improve to 15-6 on the season and tie the program record for singles win in a season. Diane Phan took care of her opponent Isel Barba 6-0, 6-1, and then Correa Fe sealed the deal with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Shayla Hosaka and secured the Knights advance into the second round against the Seasiders, who swept them 9-0 on Tuesday.

"We need to understand that it's time," said Peach. "We can't play in fear, we can't be afraid, and our one goal will be this: We know we're playing the number one team in the country, so let's go after them. We must stand up and recognize that we can play with these guys."

The Urban Knights will play at 12:30 tomorrow against the Seasiders, who have only lost three matches since 2007.