SAN FRANCISCO – After Point Loma rallied late for the first two set victories inside Kezar Pavilion on Friday, Academy of Art volleyball fought back for an extended third set, but the Sea Lions ended up holding on for a 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 25-27, 25-11) win in the end.

Making their return home after nearly three weeks of road matches, ART U was in a dogfight of a first set with PLNU. The Urban Knights quickly cut into a 15-10 Point Loma lead with kills by sophomore outside hitter Bailey Soolsma and freshman outside hitter Sydney Koehler then back-to-back slams from junior outside hitter Melissa Brum brought Academy of Art to within two points, 18-16. Seven of the next 10 points went the Sea Lions' way, however, as they gained an early set lead with the 25-19 final.

The second set followed a similar trajectory as the Knights closed a PLNU margin to two points at 16-14 before a 5-0 run by the visitors propelled them to the 25-18 victory. Once again, a two-point Point Loma advantage came late in the fourth set at 22-20, but this time, Academy of Art rallied. A kill by senior outside hitter Isabel Emrich then the tandem of freshman outside hitter Hanna Kahn and sophomore Amorelle Applin combined on a block to highlight ART U's 5-1 run. The Knights would fight off match point at 25-24 then win three in a row closed out by back-to-back kills from Kahn for the 27-25 win.

Unfortunately for Academy of Art, the momentum didn't carry far into the fourth set where Point Loma got ahead 11-6. Then it was a 13-3 run that closed the frame with the Sea Lions on top 25-11, gaining them the match victory.

Academy of Art is now 6-13 overall and 4-9 in PacWest play. Brum had her sixth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 14 digs. Senior setter Rachael Smith finished with 37 assists and junior libero Kabrina Speakman went for 13 digs.

Point Loma improves to 12-8 overall and 7-5 in conference with the victory. The PacWest's top hitter Heather Leavitt performed as advertised, amassing a match-high 25 kills with 22 digs while the conference's top setter, Savannah Wedemeyer, added 53 assists.

ART U plays the second of a pair of matches on back-to-back nights tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Concordia enters Kezar Pavilion for the first time as the Knights and Eagles rematch from their Oct. 15 meeting.