LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Academy of Art women's tennis started an intensive stretch of three games in three days with No. 4 Hawaii Pacific and though they kept their perfect doubles record intact, the Sharks came out on top Wednesday at the Northview Tennis Courts. This is the first loss of 2019 for the Urban Knights and comes against the only team in the West Region with a higher ranking.

The No. 5 ranked doubles pair in the nation, seniors Alma Thell-Lenntorp and Klara Thell-Lenntorp started the day by cruising to a 6-1 victory over Elodie Busson and Elisa Elhadj. The twin pair has yet to lose a single match in 2019. ART U clinched the doubles point when seniors Monika Stanikova and Paula Alcantara took down Sarah Ikioka and Debora Echeverria 6-4. On the singles side, junior Mariacristina Andrisani claimed the only ART U win by way of a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Sarah Ikioka. Stanikova received her first singles loss of the season and Klara was the only other Knight to win a set, though she did not complete her match due to inclement weather forcing the match to halt as soon as HPU clinched.   

After the first loss of the season Academy of Art moves to 3-1 on the year. The Urban Knights will continue their rigorous Southern California road trip when they square off with No. 22 UC San Diego Thursday, March 7 at 3 p.m.