SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art volleyball came right after the Pacific West Conference's leader Chaminade on Saturday afternoon inside Kezar Pavilion, but the Silverswords managed to narrowly fend off their opponents in two sets in what was a 3-0 (28-26, 25-16, 25-23) final score. Junior middle blocker Sadie Emery led all players in the match with a career-high 13 kills.

In a closely-contested opening set, neither team led by more than three over the course of the first 41 points scored despite runs of 4-0 and 3-0 by the Urban Knights. Two of Emery's eight kills in the set alone powered the three-point push for a 13-11 lead, but Chaminade would work its way back to a 19-19 tie that soon increased to the visitors' 23-19 advantage. Emery provided three more kills in the 6-1 response that ensued, denying the Silverswords three straight chances to take the set and also giving ART U an opportunity of its own up 25-24. Three difference CUH student-athletes then stepped up with kills and a 4-1 surge ultimately closed out their 28-26 win to start.

The teams went right back to trading points at the beginning of the second set, but suddenly Academy of Art exploded for a 5-0 run that saw junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera drop three consecutive service aces on Chaminade. The Silverswords came back to eventually even the score at 11-11 before unleashing their own 8-0 momentum shift and going on to take the frame 25-16.

Three straight ART U service aces happened once again in the third set with junior libero Michaela Charrette dictating the trajectory this time. Though that 9-7 lead would be erased, the Urban Knights continued to push the envelope, getting a pair of kills from junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak while capitalizing on Chaminade miscues for a 17-12 advantage. The Silverswords, however, rebutted with a 7-2 run, tied things up at 19-19, and nearly felt some déjà vu when they were on the verge of the set and match, but saw their chances repeatedly denied. In a must-score situation facing a 24-21 score, sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton sent down a kill and Pawlak added a service ace, but following a timeout, CUH came away with the 25-23 point and the victory.

On the year, ART U is now 4-11 overall and 2-6 in PacWest action. After matching her previous career-high of 11 kills twice this season, Emery broke out with a match-high 13 kills for a new career-best. Sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold posted her 10th double-double of the year with 31 assists and 11 digs.

Winners of eight straight as they head back to Hawaii, Chaminade remains atop the conference standings with a 7-0 PacWest record as part of their 13-2 mark overall. Rachel Reedy's 11 kills and Emma Tecklenburg's 10 kills paced the Silverswords.

With its eight-match homestand now complete, Academy of Art will be on the road for its next five matches, beginning with Dominican (Oct. 9) and Fresno Pacific (Oct. 12) next week.