SURPRISE, Ariz. – In a highly anticipated rematch from when the teams met in late March, #6 seed Academy of Art women's tennis clashed with #3 seed No. 22 Biola in the Pacific West Conference Championship Tournament Quarterfinals Thursday and, after a grueling three plus hours in the Arizona heat, the Urban Knights emerged victorious 4-2. A win for ART U in two doubles matchups gave way to three hard-fought singles wins and the match victory for Academy of Art out at Surprise Tennis & Raquet Complex.

"We have been thinking about this match versus Biola since the draws came out," said Head Coach Clarisse Baca. "We knew we could compete better than we did last time during regular season."

First to finish in doubles was the All-PacWest First Team sophomore tandem of Sofia Ragona and Yun "Nicole" Shiau, ranked No. 41, who bested Colbeyshae Emery and Mary Brascia 6-2. While court two battled back and forth, the court three saw sophomore Viktoria Leth and freshman Maria Vittoria Casucci take down Ines Diaz and Gaby Carvajal 6-3 to secure the first point for the Knights.

Biola shifted the momentum by claiming a 2-1 lead with victories on the first two courts to open singles action, but things were then evened when Leth put away Brooke Fager 6-2, 6-4 on court five. That victory was followed by Shiau defeating Alexandria Mann 7-5, 6-3 in the third slot to bring ART U one win away from claiming the match. With a tie-breaking third set underway between freshman Julia Ortega and Lilly McNeill in the fourth position, freshman Paulina Alvarez finished off a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Carvajal on court six to send the Urban Knights into the semifinals for the first time since 2019.

"Everyone played an integral part for the win today," Baca said. "We can't wait to get on the court again versus Azusa."

With the day's result, Academy of Art reaches double-digit victories on the season now at 10-5 while Biola falls to 20-5, losing its third match in its last four times out.

Now officially part of the championship side of the bracket, ART U will face No. 18 Azusa Pacific in a 1 p.m. semifinal matchup tomorrow.