FRESNO, Calif. – Fighting through closely contested sets, ART U Volleyball ended up being outlasted by Fresno Pacific 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21) on the Sunbirds' Senior Day inside the Special Events Center on Friday evening.

A 10-4 Sunbirds run began the opening set before Academy of Art fought back with consecutive blocks by redshirt junior middle blocker Safua Elisaia. FPU ended up extending its advantage with a 7-2 push thereafter and went on to take the opening set 25-15. Nine ties into the second set, the Sunbirds went on a 7-0 run to go ahead 21-15 and eventually earn the 25-18 victory.

Although the third set had a familiar feel early, a 5-0 surge by Fresno Pacific put them up 10-5 only to see a momentum shift with the Knights' 9-1 response. Senior outside hitter Bailey Soolsma offered a pair of kills and a block assist with fellow senior middle blocker Margaret Winkler during the run and the 17-14 ART U lead proved to create separation for the eventual win. Elisaia posted a kill then proceeded to collaborate on two blocks during a crucial 4-0 push toward the 25-20 win.

The Sunbirds started the fourth set up 10-4 once more and, as the teams exchanged points, it appeared FPU would win comfortably. However, a 5-1 rebuttal by the Knights, a stretch which featured kills from freshman middle blocker Sadie Emery and Soolsma, brought them to within two points at 20-18. One final move from Fresno Pacific ended up securing the 25-21 win for the 3-1 match victory.

ART U is now 5-17 on the season and 2-13 in PacWest play. Soolsma finished with her seventh double-double, logging 10 kills and 12 digs. Elisaia added seven kills plus six blocks while junior setter Alana Lucas (16 assists) and sophomore setter Lilika Teu (15 assists) shared the assist work.

FPU moves to 10-14 overall and 8-7 in conference. Karah Mitchell and Caroline Bodziak shared the team-lead with 14 kills apiece while Gabriela Macedo contributed a double-double in the form of 10 kills and 13 digs.

The Knights now enter a stretch with four of their final five matches of the season at home. A busy week begins with Notre Dame de Namur in town on Tuesday, Nov. 7 (first serve at 7:30 p.m.) followed by Chaminade on Thursday, Nov. 9 (first serve at 1 p.m.).