Academy of Art University Athletics

Junior Lucia Zavarcikova went 5-1 at the Pacific West Conference Championship Tournament last week and helped lead the Urban Knights to their best-ever finish at the tournament.

Zavarcikova was 2-1 in singles and unbeaten (3-0) in doubles with partner senior Jenny Johansson. It was Zavarcikova who pushed ART U to an upset 5-3 victory in the semifinals over second-seeded and No. 7 ranked Hawaii Pacific on Friday with a three-set singles. She won five games in a row to win the clinching set 7-5.

Zavarcikova and Johansson's 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles on Thursday was part of a near sweep, as ART U beat No. 6 seed Sonoma State 5-1 in the first round. Their 8-3 win versus HPU Friday helped give the Urban Knights an early 2-1 edge in the eventual upset, and their 9-7 win Saturday in the championship match was the only point ART U earned against eventual champion BYU-Hawaii in a 5-1 defeat.