SAN FRANCISCO — Fresh off a victorious sweep in its first match of the spring, the No. 14 Academy of Art University women's tennis team faces its first nationally ranked opponents this weekend when it travels to No. 23 Sonoma State Friday before hosting No. 27 Cal State Stanislaus Sunday.
 
The Urban Knights (1-0) swept Dominican University of California 9-0 Saturday to open 2015. It was their third straight season-opening win dating to 2013.  The Knights only lost five total games in three doubles wins and only lost one set in singles.
 
ABOUT SONOMA STATE
The No. 23 Seawolves (3-2) already have five matches under their belts in the early part of this season thanks to their recent road trip to Hawaii, where they played four matches in three days. They earned sweep victories over Hawaii-Hilo and Chaminade while being swept by top-10 ranked No. 4 BYU-Hawaii and No. 6 Hawaii Pacific to start and end the trip, respectively.
 
The Seawolves sport a 17-10 singles record in dual matches and a 9-6 record in doubles. Leire Martinez has been the Seawolves' strongest singles player, sporting a 3-1 record at the No. 1 singles spot. SSU's No. 1 doubles team of Martinez and Jacquelyn Ward is 3-2 at the top doubles slot.

ABOUT CAL STATE STANISLAUS
The No. 27 Warriors (0-1) have only been able to get in one match so far after rain washed away their season opener on Feb. 7. A 7-2 setback versus Holy Names began Cal State Stanislaus' spring. Sophomore J'Ana Diamond won both of her matches against HNU, winning at No. 1 singles and at No. 1 doubles with teammate Jessica Laurie.
 
GAJDOSIKOVA NEVER GIVES UP
Senior Nina Gajdosikova didn't have to wait long this spring for her first challenge of the season, but she rose to the occasion when facing adversity Saturday at Dominican. Gajdosikova, ranked No. 43 in the nation, faced Dominican's Rickmae Torres, ranked No. 36. Torres took the first set from Gajdosikova 6-2, but the ART U veteran returned the favor with a 6-1 victory in set No. 2. Gajdosikova found herself down again, however, in the deciding tiebreaker, facing a 6-1 deficit in a race to 10 points. But she stormed back, outscoring Torres 10-3 over the next 13 points to win the tiebreaker and the match, 11-9.
 
LOOKING FORWARD TO HOME
The Urban Knights will finally play their first home match of the season Sunday when they host No. 27 Cal State Stanislaus at the San Francisco Tennis Club. It will be the first of just five home matches this season for ART U, who will also play 11 matches on the road.