Box Score

Rohnert Park, CA -- In their closest match of the spring, the Academy of Art University tennis team battled it out with Sonoma State and emerged victorious to improve to 5-0 on the year. In the most recent national rankings, the #26 Urban Knights were two spots ahead of the #28 Seawolves, but the Knights swept doubles play before splitting singles to earn a 6-3 win.

Getting the three points from doubles play is a key in tennis, and although it took a while, the Knights earned their keep. Daniela Amelunge Antelo & Nina Gajdosikova knocked off the 21st-ranked pair of Sara Celma & Kaitlyn Haithcock 8-6. Jenny Johansson & Lucia Zavarcikova defeated Leire Martinez & Lauren Ha 8-6 as well, and Michelle Dandik Zaale teamed with newcomer Annika Schneider to finish off the sweep with an 8-5 victory in third singles.

"Today was an emotional roller coaster of a match," said head coach Beth Daub. "We came out very strong in doubles which gave us the 3-0 lead going into singles. Singles was tough for us today. They're a good team and were not letting us get away with an easy victory."

Heading into singles play, Amelunge Antelo was the first to finish off her opponent, taking down Karlee Budge 6-1, 6-0 in fifth singles. Gajdosikova was defeated by Celma 6-0, 6-1 to even the score, and Zavarcikova also dropped her second singles match to Martinez to close it to a 4-2 advantage for the Knights. ART U would clinch in the next match to finish, as Schneider beat Sheena Johnson 6-2, 6-3 to give the Knights their fifth point. Dandik Zaale also won her match in a tiebreaker (6-3, 4-6, 10-3), while Johansson suffered her first singles loss of the year in a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) defeat.

"After Dani won her match we only needed one more but it was close all around," said Daub. "Our freshman Annika rose to the occasion and clinched the match for us. Michelle was able to hold off her opponent as well in a tie breaker. It was a solid win for us but we have lots to focus on going forward. I am very proud of how the girls have started this season."

The undefeated Knights will host Holy Names University on Friday before a tough three-game road trip next week, where they'll face Azusa Pacific (March 7), Point Loma Nazarene University (March 8), and UC San Diego (March 9) on three straight days.