SAN DIEGO - The Sea Lions earned a huge win on Friday afternoon over No. 6 Academy of Art, 5-4. The match put Point Loma into double-digits in the win column as well as pushing their win streak to four games. It was a total team effort for the Sea Lions as they grabbed one of their best wins of the season. 

Starting with doubles play, it was ARTU who got on the board first with an 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles. Ellie Gambles and Nicole Camaratta would even the score with their 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. Carolina Cuevas and Gabi Armas would also win at No. 2 doubles, 8-4, which gave Point Loma the 2-1 advantage heading into singles competition. 

Cuevas would come through once again in singles play, winning her match 6-4, 6-0, to get an early, momentum-building win for the Sea Lions. After Academy of Art took the No. 1 singles match, the Sea Lions still held a 3-2 advantage but Michelle Torres would push the PLNU lead back to two points. Torres won No. 6 singles 7-5, 6-1 to put Point Loma within one point of the upset. Academy of Art was not going to go down without a fight and they cut the Sea Lion lead to one point after taking No. 4 singles. With just two matches left to play it was Shelby Groeneveld who clinched the victory for Point Loma. At No. 3 singles she won 6-4, 7-5 to secure the match and extend their winning streak.  
 
Team Records
Point Loma 10-3, Academy of Art 7-3

Wheeler's Words
On the impact of the win: "They are ranked sixth in the nation, and in that sense, it's a huge win for us. This is a team that we have played closely over the last couple of years and lost multiple close matches to them. With those close losses in mind it makes this win stand out, I am really proud of the effort the girls gave today."

On the total team effort: "Against good teams we have to have all nine spots come out ready to go. When playing those good teams you can come out with your full effort and still lose the match, and this is why these matches are always so close. Their team came out and fought for every point, every game, and we were able to match that and we were one better today." 
 
Up Next
Point Loma heads to LA tomorrow to face Cal State LA in a rematch of an earlier meeting this season, the Sea Lions were victorious in that effort, 7-2. Tomorrow's match is slated for 1 p.m. 

#22 Point Loma 5, Academy of Art 4
Singles competition
1. Monika Stanikova (AAU-WT) def. Nikki Newell (PLNU-WT) 6-1, 6-3
2. Carolina Cuevas (PLNU-WT) def. Maria Andrisani (AAU-WT) 6-4, 6-0
3. Shelby Groeneveld (PLNU-WT) def. Klara Thell-Lenntorp (AAU-WT) 6-4, 7-6
4. Taisiia Andrieieva (AAU-WT) def. Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) 6-4, 6-2
5. Alma Thell-Lenntorp (AAU-WT) def. Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
6. Michelle Torres (PLNU-WT) def. Paula Alcantara (AAU-WT) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Klara Thell-Lenntorp/Alma Thell-Lenntorp (AAU-WT) def. Nikki Newell/Shelby Groeneveld (PLNU-WT) 8-2
2. Carolina Cuevas/Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) def. Maria Andrisani/Taisiia Andrieieva (AAU-WT) 8-4
3. Ellie Gamble/Nicole Camaratta (PLNU-WT) def. Paula Alcantara/Monika Stanikova (AAU-WT) 8-4

Match Notes:
Academy of Art University 7-3; National ranking #6; Regional ranking #2
Point Loma 10-3; National ranking #22; Regional ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,6,4,3,5)
T-3:08