SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University volleyball showed tremendous resilience Saturday evening inside Kezar Pavilion as Hawaii Pacific rallied late to force a fifth set in which ART U pushed through to win 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13). A complete team effort had four Urban Knights register double-digit kills and three double-doubles.

Early in the first set, Academy of Art went on an 8-1 run to create separation as both freshman middle blocker Safua Elisaia and freshman outside hitter Stine Raben worked in tandem. The Knights maintained that margin until an 8-2 Sharks response set up the visitors for set point. Though ART U fought off two of HPU's chances to finish it, a block ended the set with Hawaii Pacific on top 25-23.

Academy of Art built another early advantage in set two, relying on offense from sophomore middle blocker Amorelle Applin and senior outside hitter Isabel Emrich. Eventually, the Sharks managed to come back to not only tie, but then take a 16-15 lead. This time, it was ART U who stepped on the gas, getting three consecutive block assists (all with Elisaia) as part of a 9-1 run to close the set on top 25-18.

Out of the extended break, a 14-5 ART U margin came after the Knights broke a 4-4 tie with a 10-1 push. Not one to throw in the towel, HPU later fought back with six unanswered points, but Academy of Art did not lose its lead and finished the set 25-20 on three straight block assists (all with Elisaia once again).

Both teams played a tight fourth set tied 19-19, 21-21, 22-22, and 23-23 before the Sharks managed a short rally to take the 25-23 win and force a decisive fifth game. Senior setter Rachael Smith picked up a kill of her own early in the final frame then set up three different teammates including junior outside hitter Melissa Brum, Emrich, and Raben to keep the Knights in line with Hawaii Pacific. Down 12-11, Academy of Art rallied with a kill by Brum, another by Raben, a Sharks error, then finally ended the 15-13 victory on Raben's putaway.

Academy of Art improves to 7-17 overall and 3-13 in PacWest play with the victory. Contributions came from up and down the roster with Raben offering a team-high 16 kills while Brum came through with her third consecutive double-double (15 kills, 21 digs) and ninth of the year. Elisaia posted a double-double with 12 kills and a career-high 10 blocks (which tied the program record set by Amy Bush in 2009), Emrich finished with 11 kills after being set frequently by Smith who finished with 51 assists and 13 digs. Junior libero Kabrina Speakman added a team-high 23 digs and made for a strong defensive tandem with freshman Lyndsay Mlynar who had 16 digs.

Hawaii Pacific takes its fifth straight loss and drops to 13-11 overall (8-8 in PacWest). Recca had the match-high 18 kills and 21 digs while Amanda Moriarty also had 21 digs and Elizabeth Culpepper put up 12 kills.

ART U looks ahead to two more home matches next week with California Baptist (Nov. 13) and Azusa Pacific (Nov. 14) in town.