#38 Academy of Art 5, #46 Sonoma State 4

SAN FRANCISCO -- In a highly contested match between two nationally-ranked teams, the Sonoma State women's tennis team gave host Academy of Art all that it could handle, but ultimately fell short, 5-4, on Sunday at the Bay Club San Francisco.  The No. 46 Seawolves drop to 14-9 this season while the No. 38 Urban Knights, who have won three straight, improve to 18-5.

Sara Celma and Chloe Jolliff earned a victory at No. 1 doubles, moving to 15-5 this season, with a narrow 8-6 win over Nina Gajdosikova and Daniela Amelunge.  Lauren Ha and Sheena Johnson almost pulled of the win at No. 3, but eventually lost 9-7, and the Seawolves went into singles play down 2-1 in the match.

Ha cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles, and while Celma and Lauren Shafer pulled off wins at No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, it took extra sets to do so.  Celma earned a hard-fought 7-6 (7-4) victory in the first set, but dropped the second, 6-4, before coming back to win the third-set tiebreaker, 10-4.  Shafer also went the roundabout way to earn her victory.  She won a first-set nailbiter at 7-6 (8-6), lost the second 6-4, but came back to claim the narrow 10-7 win.

However, the Urban Knights grabbed straight-set victories at 2, 3 and 4 to clinch the match.

Sonoma State will wrap up the home portion of its 2013 schedule on Friday when it plays host to UC Santa Cruz, starting at 2:00 p.m.

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#38 Academy of Art 5, #46 Sonoma State 4
Apr 14, 2013 at San Francisco, CA (Bay Club San Francisco)

Singles competition
1. Sara Celma (SSU) def. Nina Gajdosikova (AAU) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 10-4
2. Michelle Dandik (AAU) def. Chloe Jolliff (SSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Amal Ben El Hadj (AAU) def. Megan White (SSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Jenny Johansson (AAU) def. Sheena Johnson (SSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Lauren Ha (SSU) def. Kinga Kurczbuch (AAU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Lauren Shafer (SSU) def. Tamara Kenia (AAU) 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 10-7

Doubles competition
1. Sara Celma/Chloe Jolliff (SSU) def. Nina Gajdosikova/Daniela Amelunge (AAU) 8-6
2. Amal Ben El Hadj/Michelle Dandik (AAU) def. Megan White/Lauren Shafer (SSU) 8-1
3. Jenny Johansson/Sarah Lemp (AAU) def. Lauren Ha/Sheena Johnson (SSU) 9-7

Match Notes
Sonoma State 14-9; National ranking #46; Regional ranking #9
Academy of Art 18-5; National ranking #38; Regional ranking #8
Official: Shawn Dolgin T-3:30 A-20