2015 Warriors Tennis Invitational Results

TURLOCK, Calif. – It was a busy weekend for Academy of Art University women's tennis who played a total of 21 singles matches and 10 doubles contests over a three-day span at the Warrior Tennis Invitational hosted by Stanislaus State.

"We started really slow as a team, but we were able to improve with each day and I felt like we progressively incorporated more of what we have been working on as a team," said Nicole Briceño-Garzón. "We have a lot we need to keep improving as a team but I feel we are moving in the right direction." 

Among the highlights from singles play were quarterfinals finishes by both freshman Taisiia "Taya" Andrieieva and junior Annika Schneider in the ITA Black Singles bracket. Andrievia topped Dominican's Brooke Briseno 6-4, 6-3 and Schneider yielded just a single set to Stanislaus State's Jessica Laurie (6-1, 6-0) to reach the quarters. There, eventual bracket champion and runner-up, Sonoma State's Jensyn Warren and Kaitlyn Haithcock, defeated the Urban Knights in their respective matches with Andrievia pushing her opponent to the limit with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 1-6, 1-0(4) final.

Sophomore Gabriela Rivas triumphed over a pair of opponents to represent ART U in the finals of the ITA Red Singles bracket. She quickly defeated Jade Escalante of Mills College then went into a tiebreaker with Sonoma State's Mariann Bukich, but came out victorious 6-2, 0-6, 1-0(7). In the finals, Rivas would have to settle for runner-up as she fell to Sonoma State's Julie Rea 6-4, 6-1.

"Specifically I am very happy with Gaby and Taya's performances," said Briceño-Garzón. "They both really started the tournament strong and never backed down. They showed fight and determination and, although the results weren't what we wanted, this will keep helping them move to the level I know they can reach."

Academy of Art's lone competitor in the ITA Gold Singles bracket was Michelle Dandik Zaale and she made it into the finals as well with a trio of strong straight-set wins. In the Round of 16, she topped Sonoma State's Hillary Fazekas 6-2, 6-2 then did not relinquish a set in a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Gwen Fernstrom of Mills College. The semifinals pit Dandik Zaale against Stanislaus State's Jaella Conway and the result was another 6-1, 6-2 win. The bracket finals saw yet another ART U-Sonoma State matchup with Karlee Budge meeting Dandik Zaale and SSU would prevail 6-4, 6-3.

Though freshman Paula Alcantara and sophomore Dorota Makowska did not advance past the opening round of the ITA Black Singles bracket, both would rally and meet in the consolation finals where Markowska topped her teammate 6-2, 6-2.

The ITA Doubles bracket featured three Academy of Art doubles teams with two advancing to the quarterfinals. Markowska and Rivas paired up for an 8-0 opening round win over Mills' Fernstrom and Roxana Farmer before falling to Sonoma State's Warren and Jordan Kearney 8-1. Schneider and Andrievia defeated Stanislaus State's Cassidy Ferrell and Conway 8-3, but could not overcome Dominican's Briseno and Ricki Torres in an 8-5 final. Dandik Zaale and Alcantara dropped their opening round matchup, but came back to win the consolation finals against Ferrell and Conway 8-3.

ART U closes out its fall season with the Santa Clara University Invitational on Nov. 6-8 in Santa Clara.