HONOLULU – Academy of Art volleyball had an energized debut to its Pacific West Conference Hawaii roadtrip, defeating Hawaii Pacific in the opening set on the Sharks' home floor, but Wednesday's rematch later culminated with HPU on top 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19) at St. Francis High School.

Hawaii Pacific started strong and developed a 12-6 lead out of the gate before ART U began its comeback. Things began on a kill by junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera and became a 6-2 run initially. The Sharks pushed an 18-13 advantage, but the Urban Knights would remain close enough to strike late. At the 21-17 juncture, Academy of Art proceeded to score eight of the set's final 10 points, three on kills by junior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery, and a huge momentum shift had ART U claim the opener 25-23.

Like the first frame, HPU was ahead 10-2 at the start of the second, but this time the Sharks added a 5-0 shortly thereafter to give them a 16-5 lead. On the verge of evening the match at one set apiece, Hawaii Pacific was suddenly hit by a barrage of kills. Figueroa Ferriera, sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton, and Emery all got in on the action as the Knights continuously denied their opponents the final point. In the end, however, a HPU kill finished the set in their favor 25-17.

In a different pattern, set three remained even up until an 8-7 score where the Sharks created their first significant margin on a 7-1 surge. The teams would exchange short bursts the rest of the way and soon Hawaii Pacific had a 2-1 advantage in the match after taking the frame 25-18.

Kills early in the fourth set by Emery, moments later by Figueroa Ferriera, and one by junior middle blocker Carly Evetts midway through were enough to give Academy of Art a 15-13 lead as a decisive fifth set looked to be on the horizon. Momentum swung to HPU at that point with an 8-1 push and though the teams would battle closely for the remainder of the set, the night concluded with a 25-19 result.

With the evening's result, ART U moves to 12-16 on the season and 9-11 in PacWest play. Emery's match-high 12 kills came with a .360 hitting percentage and were one more than the 11 from Evetts. Figueroa Ferriera added nine kills with 12 digs and sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold turned in 41 kills plus 10 digs for her 18th double-double of the year. Competing roughly 12 miles from her hometown of Aiea, junior libero Ashley Pawlak provided a match-high 15 digs.

Led by Perla Escobar's 11 kills, Hawaii Pacific improves to 18-11 overall and 14-7 in conference with the victory.

Academy of Art will remain on Oahu to take on Chaminade tomorrow night inside McCabe Gymnasium at 7 p.m. HT (9 p.m. PT).