AZUSA, CALIF. – No. 1-seeded sophomores Alma Thell-Lenntorp and Klara Thell-Lenntorp entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Western Regional Championships ranked 25th in the nation. The twins did not disappoint, winning five-consecutive matches against the region's top players to emerge as doubles champions.
 
On Thursday, Alma and Klara's journey began by making quick work of Concordia's Diffenback and Glick, sweeping the pair 8-0. On Friday, the duo faced off with the Nowamooz siblings from UC San Diego, finishing with a dominant 8-1 score. Later that day, they clashed with Sokolova and Dilaura from Cal State LA, taking the contest by a final score of 8-3 to advance to the semifinals. On Saturday, the twins breezed through their Point Loma opponents 8-3 to reach the championship match against the No. 3 seeded pair from CSULA (Johnson and Schneider). With a 2:00 p.m. first serve, the sophomores did not miss a beat, dominating once again with an 8-3 victory. This was the program's fourth appearance at the ITA Western Regionals, but the first time they have produced a champion in either the singles or doubles category. With their victory, Alma and Klara will now head to the ITA Oracle Cup which will be held in Surprise, Ariz. October 13-16.
 
"It was a great win for Alma and Klara," said acting coach and Associate Athletics Director of Compliiance/Senior Woman Administrator Ashley Adams. "Even without their coach there, they worked hard to stay focused on the goal. The entire group really came together to support each other and cheer each other on."
 
Sophomore Paula Alcantara and freshman MariaCristina Andrisani teamed up as ART U's second doubles team in the tournament. The pair won their first match 8-3 against Dominican's Torres and Shear, but could not advance against Matsuoka and and Hall who later fell to the Thell-Lenntorps in the championship match.
 
On the singles side, the Urban Knights again, found themselves competing deep into the tournament, including Klara who entered as the No. 6 seed. Thell-Lenntorp took her first four matches, but fell just short against No. 1-seeded Warren from Sonoma State who eventually won the singles' title.
 
"Klara competed hard and made it all the way to the semifinals," said Adams. "She had a tough match against the No. 1 seed, but she showed she's comfortable competing against the top competition."
 
Alma also fared well, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Newell from Point Loma who was the No. 3 seed and lost to Warren in the championship match. In Andrisani's ART U singles debut, the freshman won her first match, but could not advance against the No. 2 seed from CSULA, falling 6-0, 6-1. Alcantara and sophomore Taisiia Andrieieva also competed for Academy of Art, but could not get out of the first round.
 
While the Thell-Lenntorps head to Arizona, the rest of the team will gear up for their final fall tournament October 15 and 16 at Sonoma State University.