MATCH #11
No. 11 Academy of Art (7-3) at No. 18 Azusa Pacific (12-7)
Friday, April 3, 2015 – 1 p.m. PDT
Azusa, Calif. – Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex
LIVE STATS
 
MATCH #12
No. 11 Academy of Art (7-3) at #22 Cal State LA (8-7)
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – 11 a.m. PDT
Los Angeles – CSULA Tennis Complex

SAN FRANCISCO — A pivotal weekend on the road that could shape the race for a spot in the NCAA West Regional at season's end faces the No. 11 Academy of Art University women's tennis team this week in Southern California.
 
The Urban Knights (7-3) travel to Los Angeles for two matches in two days against top-25 opponents. The trip begins at 1 p.m. Friday in Azusa, Calif., versus No. 18 Azusa Pacific. Saturday ART U heads to Los Angeles to take on No. 22 Cal State LA at 11 a.m.
 
Academy of Art has won two matches in a row thanks to wins over No. 17 UC San Diego and Cal State Stanislaus last week. The Urban Knights are 4-2 on the road this season and 4-2 against nationally ranked opponents.
 
ABOUT No. 18 AZUSA PACIFIC
The Cougars (12-7) were edged Tuesday by nearby rival Cal State LA, 5-4. That loss snapped a four-match winning streak that dated to March 21 and included wins over then-No. 22 Point Loma and a 5-4 win of their own over Cal State LA. With two matches remaining in the season, Azusa Pacific will have to face the region's No. 3 team (ART U) and No. 4 team (UC San Diego) in the hopes to improve their playoff chances.
 
ABOUT No. 22 CAL STATE LA
The Golden Eagles (8-7) are in the midst of a two-match win streak and have been good at home (5-3) this season. They upended No. 18 Azusa Pacific, 5-4, on Tuesday after being narrowly defeated on March 26 by the Cougars, 4-5.  CSULA did particularly well in doubles completion, notching two wins over APU.
 
BATTLE OF RANKED PLAYERS
The Urban Knights will be heading into match-ups against two of the top ranked players in the nation. Azusa Pacific will be led by 17th-ranked Natalie Johnson (12-5). Meanwhile CSULA is led by 40th-ranked Nozomi Matsuoka (7-7). The two of them dueled this past week, with Johnson getting the upper hand in straight sets (6-0, 6-2). Academy of Art will counter with 48th-ranked Nina Gajdosikova (7-3).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Urban Knights head home for a meetings with Dominican University (April 10) and Holy Names University (April 11) before finishing off their season in San Jose against NCAA Division I member San Jose State (April 12). Currently, Academy of Art is ranked third in the region. The region's second and third place team will have a one-match playoff for a spot in the national tournament.