HAYWARD, Calif. – Despite gaining a 2-1 advantage in sets and later a five-point lead in the fifth set, Academy of Art University volleyball unfortunately found itself on the losing end of its matchup with Saint Martin's on Thursday. Inside Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Gym once more, SMU managed to finish off a comeback and win 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-10) in both teams' Division II Volleyball Showcase debut.

The opening set favored the Saints in the early going as a 9-0 run gave SMU a 12-3 lead. Though the Knights would not go without a fight, that margin eventually held up and took the form of a 25-18 set victory for Saint Martin's. In the second frame, an 8-3 ART U advantage came after redshirt sophomore middle blocker Safua Elisaia and redshirt freshman outside hitter Ema Causevic teamed up for an emphatic block, but the Saints would rally to tie things up 11-11. The set remained close until a kill by senior outside hitter Kabrina Speakman ended it 25-23.

Early offense from junior outside hitter Bailey Soolsma and senior outside hitter Melissa Brum helped Academy of Art establish a 13-8 lead in the third set. The Knights worked hard to stay ahead, but the Saints eventually tied it at 23-23 and it was not until a kill by freshman middle blocker Jennifer Argelander was paired with a SMU attack error for the 26-24 win.

After going ahead 13-5 to start the fourth set, Saint Martin's worked to maintain their advantage despite 12-6 response that brought Academy of Art to within two points at 19-17. Freshman setter Lilika Teu found Brum for numerous kills down the stretch in that comeback, but the Saints would manage to hold on for a 25-19 match-evening set victory. The Knights showed their offensive versatility to get ahead 8-3 in the final set, but a 12-2 momentum shift enabled SMU to pull off a miraculous 15-10 win for the match.

Academy of Art is now 1-4 overall this season despite a night that saw Speakman turn in a career-high 18 kills and 13 digs. Brum had an identical double-double while Elisaia added eight kills and eight block assists. Redshirt sophomore libero Lyndsay Mlynar contributed a team-high 21 digs and Teu finished with her second double-double in the form of a season-high 37 assists and 12 digs.

Now 1-0 to start the season, Saint Martin's was led by double-digit kills from Megan Vernoy (16), Rachel Gondrezik (14), and Maddie Knecht (14).

ART U will be back inside Pioneer Gym tomorrow for a pair of matches to continue to the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. At 11:15 a.m., the Knights enter their first-ever meeting with Cal State San Marcos then finish the day's doubleheader with a 6 p.m. first serve against Cal State Monterey Bay.