Box Score

Phoenix, AZ -- The Academy of Art University volleyball team has found itself in one of the most competitive conferences in Division II volleyball, and on Saturday night faced off against the third of three Top 25 teams in the PacWest, battling with but eventually dropping the match to No. 21 Grand Canyon. The Urban Knights kept it close and put together some impressive runs, but the Antelopes closed the gap each time and beat ART U in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-16. 

Lindsay Elgin started off the match with back-to-back kills, but Grand Canyon rebounded and took an 11-6 lead after an error by Brittany Ulmer. The 'Lopes continued to trade points with the Knights but maintained their lead. Three straight errors by Grand Canyon brought ART U within three points at 17-14, but from there the Antelopes got kills from their top attacker, Kristen Preach, and eventually won the set 25-18.

The two teams were see-sawing back and forth in the second set, but after a kill from Holli "Ka'ena" Kaina and an error by the 'Lopes, the Knights had it at a two-point margin at 11-9. But four straight from Grand Canyon gave them a big lead, and while ART U got it back to 19-16, the Knights couldn't close the gap. Elgin added a block with Rachael Smith and another kill late but a service error from Janelle Burnett ended the set at 25-19 and gave GCU a 2-0 lead. 

Academy of Art made some noise in the third set, forcing a few errors by the Antelopes to take a 6-4 lead. The set swung back to the 'Lopes, who took a 10-8 lead. The Urban Knights got it to 16-14 after another error by Grand Canyon, but with Hayleigh Friemoth serving, the home team scored six in a row to seal the set and the match with a 25-16 victory.

Elgin led the Knights with 10 kills on .350 hitting, with Brittany Ulmer right behind at eight kills and a .286 percentage. Burnett had 16 digs for Academy of Art, while Rachael Smith had 29 assists. Kaitlynn Ausmus had 11 kills for the Antelopes, while Preach had 10 kills on a .769 hitting percentage, also pitching in 24 assists. Mackenzie Phelps had 17 digs. The Knights will return home for their final two matches of the season, facing Notre Dame de Namur and Fresno Pacific University at Kezar Pavilion.