FRESNO, Calif. – In the squad's first match of a two-part valley road trip, Academy of Art women's tennis gained momentum after taking the doubles point, then confidently put away Cal State LA 6-1 with five singles triumphs on Friday.

Winning the first doubles decision for the Urban Knights was the tandem of sophomore Jessica Plazas and freshman Estelle Najean, who took down Sakura Kurokawa and Alexandra Hincu 6-4 on Court 2. Clinching the doubles point for ART U were junior Paulia Alvarez and junior Maria Vittoria Casucci who defeated Courtlyn Lam and Rochelle Suarez 6-4 as well on Court 3. Freshman Amelija Supulniece and junior Erica Hellbe, No. 24 nationally in doubles, allowed insurance for the Urban Knights as they held the lead at the moment 6-5, but the match would go unfinished with the clinch.

Up 1-0 heading into singles play, ART U began to see success coming from all angles, as Supulniece started off in dominant fashion on Court 1, taking down Hideka Takamura swiftly 6-0, 6-0. Plazas then won her match soon after 6-1, 6-0 on Court 3 over Hincu, freshman Georgiana Parr bested Summer Roybal and senior Viktoria Leth defeated Lea Rolland, both with 6-0, 6-0 scores, making it just one allowed game from the Knights through four singles matches. While Parr clinched the victory for ART U, freshman Estelle Najean finished her match off as she gained another point for the squad, earning a win over Suarez 6-2, 6-2.

The Urban Knights will run it back tomorrow at the same courts tomorrow in Fresno, Calif., as the squad will take on No. 17 Point Loma with first serve at 9 a.m.