Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – Despite Academy of Art Volleyball establishing a two-set lead over Notre Dame de Namur, the Argonauts fought back to win 3-2 (28-30, 23-25, 25-13, 25-23, 15-10) in the teams' Pacific West Conference rematch inside Kezar Pavilion on Tuesday evening. Four double-doubles were posted as ART U established new season-highs with 13.0 blocks and 119 digs (the second-most in the program's single-game history).
After NDNU began the match with a 4-2 advantage, the Urban Knights responded with a 7-1 push to take the lead. Sophomore middle blocker
Jennifer Argelander contributed two kills plus a block assist to the run. The Argos came to within a single point, but Academy of Art pulled away again thanks to a 6-2 surge. Both teams fought to gain that early set lead as Notre Dame de Namur got to within one at 21-20 and, after holding off two set points, tied the frame 24-24. The Knights threatened with two more set points thereafter yet NDNU used a quick run to have its own chance at the set up 28-27. In the end, a service error and two attack errors earned Academy of Art the opening it needed to win 30-28.
Set two was even early with both teams repeatedly exchanging short runs. From 17-17, the teams were tied five times before a kill by freshman middle blocker
Sadie Emery was combined with a pair of kills off the hand of senior outside hitter
Bailey Soolsma for the 25-23 win and a two-set lead.
As NDNU worked to establish a 20-9 lead in the third set, PacWest kills per set leader Bianca Alvarez achieved an impressive milestone, setting a new PacWest record with her 1,705th career kill. Momentum on their side, the Argos finished off the set 25-13 to stay alive.
A 6-1 Academy of Art run to open the fourth set was met with five unanswered points and the teams then once more exchanged leads. Emery was key during the Knights' late push as her block assists and kill put ART U up 23-21, however, Notre Dame de Namur responded with four straight points to sneak away the set 25-23, forcing a fifth frame.
The Knights went up 4-2 in the fifth, but were rebutted by a 5-0 run and soon found themselves tied with their opponent 7-7. Following the switch of sides, another 5-0 surge in which Alvarez killed three balls helped NDNU gain a major advantage at 13-8 and from there they would prevail fittingly on Alvarez's final spike.
ART U drops to 5-18 overall and 2-14 in PacWest play with Tuesday's result. The evening's double-doubles came from Soolsma (17 kills, 24 digs),
Ashley Pawlak (11 kills, 19 digs), sophomore setter
Lilika Teu (22 assists, 18 digs), and junior setter
Alana Lucas (21 assists, 14 digs). Redshirt junior libero
Lyndsay Mlynar totaled 23 digs as well.
The win helps NDNU rise to 15-10 overall and 10-7 in conference. Alvarez not only achieved the PacWest record, but finished with a career-high 34 kills plus 27 digs to lead the Argos.
Academy of Art will turn around and host Chaminade this Thursday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. back inside Kezar Pavilion.
