Match #19
No. 25 ART U Urban Knights (6-10) vs. Dominican Penguins (7-9)
Wed, April 13, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Surprise, Ariz. – Surprise Tennis & Racquet Center
 
PacWest Conference Championship Bracket
 
PACWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
After wrapping up the regular season with a 9-0 sweep against Stanislaus State, the Urban Knights head to Surprise, Ariz. as the seventh seed in the PacWest Conference Championship. Their first match will come against the Dominican Penguins on Wednesday, April 13 at 9:00 a.m. Live coverage will be available on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
 
DOMINICAN PENGUINS
The Penguins went 7-9 in the regular season and fell 0-9 when they faced Academy of Art on February 13. Alex Wartenberg posted the best singles record (8-7) and paired with Brooke Briseno to create the team's most lucrative doubles pair with a 4-5 record.
 
No. 9 HAWAII PACIFIC SHARKS
Should ART U advance past Dominican, they will face HPU who finished the season 13-4 and won four out of their final five matches. When the two faced off on March 5, the Sharks came out on top 5-2. The Urban Knights and Hawaii Pacific also share some postseason history. After falling to HPU in the regular season in 2015, ART U pulled off a 5-3 victory in the PacWest Championship. The Knights would face the Sharks when they hosted the first round of the NCAA tournament, but were unable to repeat their success, falling 2-5.   

No. 1 BYU-HAWAII SEASIDERS
If the Urban Knights continue to advance, there are a myriad of other potential teams that they will face on their way to the championship match. One of said teams includes the Seasiders. BYU-Hawaii rolled into San Francisco on March 24 to face ART U, having swept each of their previous opponents. Although the Seasiders would emerge victorious, Academy of Art was able to take three points from their Aloha State opponent for the first time this season. BYU-Hawaii would win out the rest of the regular season, finishing 19-0 overall. However, the Urban Knights' three wins were the most that the Seasiders would surrender all year.
 
No. 14 AZUSA PACIFIC COUGARS
The Cougars are yet another powerhouse that ART U may find themselves up against in the PacWest Championship. APU enters the tournament with a 14-6 record and have won eight out of their last ten matches. Both Lisa Schneider and Jackie Resler have compiled the best records in singles, posting respective 13-4 and 11-2 records. Resler and Valeriia Kashina have partnered to become the team's best doubles duo, going 14-4 overall. The pair have played in each position and have compiled a 2-0 record in both first and second doubles.
 
KNIGHTS SWEEP WARRIORS, CELEBRATE SENIOR DAY
April 3 – There was an air of nostalgia in the air on Sunday as women's tennis lined up for the final time at the San Francisco Tennis Club this season. It was a bittersweet moment as it was also a day of celebration for senior Michelle Dandik Zaale's final home match as an Urban Knight. After an emotional pre-match ceremony in which Dandik Zaale was presented with gifts, hugs, and tears of happiness, the Urban Knights knew it was time to take care of business against Stanislaus State.
 
In doubles, ART U dropped just three games as a collective. Twin freshmen Alma Thell-Lenntorp and Klara Thell-Lenntorp handed the Warriors an 8-0 defeat in first singles. Meanwhile, Dandik Zaale and freshman Paula Alcantara (8-1) and freshman Taisiia Andrieieva and sophomore Gabriela Rivas (8-2) defeated their opponents in the second and third positions respectively.

LOOKING AHEAD
If Academy of Art advances past the first round on Wednesday, April 13, they will face Hawaii Pacific on Thursday with the possibility of two more matches on Friday and Saturday.