San Francisco, CA – Uniting throughout a memorable battle with one of the PacWest's top contenders, Academy of Art University Volleyball knocked off California Baptist 3-2 (25-21, 14-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-10) Saturday afternoon inside Kezar Pavilion. The Urban Knights lived their "Be First. Be Positive." mentality as stellar performances came from up and down the lineup, highlighted by 22 kills from sophomore Melissa Brum and a career-high 16 kills by senior Brittany Ulmer.

It was a first set breakthrough for ART U who used a stretch where Kanoe Irvine delivered three consecutive service aces to take an 8-5 lead. The run became a 9-2 early burst as Ulmer and Brum hammered home the final kills. California Baptist fought back with a 6-2 run, but could not regain control as the Knights never let go of their advantage.

Timely points from freshman Margaret Winkler and sophomore Emily Papale helped keep Academy of Art's foot on the gas pedal. Eventually three consecutive kills by Brum separated ART U enough for a 25-21 victory. The Lancers responded in the second set by taking a 14-7 lead to start. Steady play kept CBU in front this time and several short runs were enough to give the visitors a 25-14 win.

Both sides were determined to take the third set following the break and it showed with a 7-3 ART U lead that quickly became a 9-8 CBU advantage. From 10-10, the Knights went to work; surging ahead with a 9-3 run that featured four straight points at the end. That margin held up down the stretch despite the Lancers' best efforts. Ulmer finished off the 25-20 victory to put Academy of Art up 2-1.

It was anyone's fourth set early until Jordyn Siko's kill completed a 5-0 run to put CBU up 12-7. The teams traded points from that time on and, though the Knights sought to put away the Lancers, California Baptist denied them that chance despite a late 6-3 push that brought ART U to within four points. Rachael Smith nailed a service ace and Brum slammed down two kills, one to fend off a set point, but CBU ended up forcing a fifth with the 25-20 result.

The decisive fifth set started with four ties as Brum continued to swing with authority. From 6-6, Academy of Art jumped ahead with kills from Isabel Emrich and Papale to start what became a critical 5-1 run. Three different Urban Knights, Ulmer, Brum, and Emrich, delivered kills down the stretch to lead ART U to a 15-10 victory and the match.

Academy of Art rises to 7-5 on the year and 2-2 in PacWest play with Saturday's victory. Brum delivered another double-double (22 kills, 16 digs) for her 10th of the season. Ulmer's 16 kills topped her previous career-high (12), coming with a team-best five block assists. Smith had her first double-double of the year with 51 assists and 13 digs while Irvine added a team-high 19 digs. Papale added 13 digs of her own and eight kills.

The ART U PacWest homestand continues with UH Hilo in town on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and Hawaii Pacific following on Thursday, Oct. 2. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:30 PM inside Kezar Pavilion.