ST. GEORGE, Utah, March 3 - Academy of Art, the
eighth-ranked Division II tennis team in the West Region, handed Southern Utah
an 8-1 loss Saturday morning, evening the Thunderbirds 2012 record at 1-1.
Academy of Art improved to 5-5.
Southern Utah Coach Lenny Lee shook up his injury-shortened lineup
Saturday but to no avail as the Thunderbirds got a win at second doubles but lost
every other point using the nine-point Division II scoring system.
Ksusha Johnson and Lisa Pleskan teamed to defeat Paola
Correa Fe and Courtney Dewalt, 8-1, at second doubles, but Kunkanda Phukchampa
and Amal Ben El Hadj downed Alex Ivanova and Olia Tatarchenko at No. 1 and with
just five healthy players SUU lost the point at the third position.
Academy of Art swept all five contested singles matches, as
Phukchampa downed Ivanova at No. 1, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; El Hadj beat Johnson at No.
2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and Tatarchenko saw her 14-match winning streak come to an end
in a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Diane Phan at No. 3. SUU's Afton Staheli lost a 6-1, 6-1 decision
to Daniele Amelunge in the fourth position, and Pleskan lost 6-1, 6-3 to Jenny
Johansson at No. 5. SUU didn't have a player in the sixth spot.
The Thunderbirds will face Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton,
Calif., on Sunday.
Tennis Match Results
Southern Utah vs Academy of Art
University
Mar 03, 2012 at St. George, UT
(Bell Courts)
Academy of Art University 8, Southern Utah 1
Singles competition
1. Kunkanda Phukchampa (AAU-WT) def.
Alex Ivanova (SUU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
2. Amal Ben El Hadj (AAU-WT) def.
Ksusha Johnson (SUU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Diane Phan (AAU-WT) def. Olia Tatarchenko (SUU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Daniela Amelunge (AAU-WT) def. Afton Staheli (SUU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Jenny Johansson (AAU-WT) def.
Elizaveta Pleskan (SUU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Maria Tenorio (AAU-WT) def. No
player (SUU), by default
Doubles competition
1. Kunkanda Phukchampa/Amal Ben El Hadj
(AAU-WT) def. Alex Ivanova/Olia Tatarchenko (SUU) 8-2
2. Ksusha Johnson/Elizaveta Pleskan
(SUU) def. Paola Correa Fe/Courtney DeWalt (AAU-WT) 8-1
3. Diane Phan/Daniela Amelunge (AAU-WT)
def. No player/No player (SUU), by default
Match Notes:
Southern Utah 1-1
Academy of Art University 5-5; Regional
ranking #8
-- SUU --
