Erica Hellbe
Mitch Davis
2
Hawai'i Pacific HPU-WT (9-12)
4
Winner Academy of Art AAU-WT (12-5)
Hawai'i Pacific HPU-WT
(9-12)
2
Final
4
Academy of Art AAU-WT
(12-5)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

Knights Charge To Semifinal After 4-2 Win Over HPU

SURPRISE, Ariz. – No. 48 Academy of Art women's tennis came away with the upset and won their second match of the Pacific West Conference Championship on Thursday over the four seed No. 36 Hawaii Pacific, as the Urban Knights won the first three points of the day with junior Paulina Alvarez shutting the door on the Sharks to seal with 4-2 victory. 

In doubles action, senior Viktoria Leth and Alvarez made quick work of Lynn Kader and Jayanne Palma on Court 3, as the pair shut them down with a 6-0 score to finish first. Coming down to Court 1, No. 23 freshman Amelija Supulniece and junior Erica Hellbe took down No. 42 Abigail Wild and Sara Hejmankova with a 6-3 score to clinch the doubles win and put ART U up 1-0 as the teams headed into singles play.

Junior Maria Vittoria Casucci kicked singles off with a win on Court 3 against Hejmankova with a 6-4, 6-1 score before Freshman of the Year recipient No. 55 Supulniece defeated No. 42 Wild again on Court 1 in singles, this time finishing 6-1, 6-3. After two competitive matches from sophomore Jessica Plazas and Leth in singles that saw two won sets for the Knights, Alvarez recorded ART U's needed fourth point on Court 6 over Kader with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 score to push the Knights atop the Sharks. With the only unfinished match of the day being on Court 4, freshman Estelle Najean's battle was called against Palma with the score tied up at 6-0, 4-6, 4-4.

Now moving on to the Semifinals, #5 seed Academy of Art will square up against #1 seed No. 30 Point Loma tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.
 
Paulina Alvarez