PacWest Conference Championship: No. 25 Academy of Art versus No. 9 Hawaii Pacific Final Results
 
SURPRISE, Ariz. – No. 25 Academy of Art women's tennis looked to repeat history on Thursday and defeat the No. 9 Hawaii Pacific Sharks in the PacWest Championship. Their bid fell just short however, falling by a score of 5-3.

The Sharks pulled ahead early in doubles, but all of ART U's teams were able to come back and either tie or go ahead of their opponents. In first doubles, freshmen Klara Thell-Lenntorp and Alma Thell-Lenntorp were pitted against the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the country. The twins fought their way into a 6-6 tie, but were unable to take home the win as HPU won the next two games to win 8-6. Junior Annika Schneider and freshman Taisiia Andrieieva's match ended in a similar fashion: the two teams were tied 8-8 before the Sharks were able to complete a 9-8 (7-3) victory. Freshman Paula Alcantara and senior Michelle Dandik Zaale were the lone victors in doubles. The two worked together to come from behind and triumph 8-5.
 
As the match shifted to singles, Academy of Art was faced with the task of winning four out of the six contests to come. Klara did not let a game slip by in fifth singles, sweeping HPU's Lorena Gheorghe 6-0, 6-0. Alma also made quick work of her adversary, taking the first set 6-1 and followed up with a 6-3 second. Schneider fought hard in her fourth position matchup and nearly took the first set. However, the Sharks' Oceane Adam came through 6-4. Schneider was leading 3-1 in the second set when the match came to a halt.
 
The Urban Knights will now cross over to the consolation bracket where they will face off with No. 14 and third-seeded Azusa Pacific. Their match will begin on Friday at 9:00 a.m.