AZUSA, Calif. – In Southern California for its final two Pacific West Conference matches of the season, Academy of Art volleyball sustained a defeat 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-20) at the hands of Azusa Pacific inside Felix Event Center on Friday night.

The opening set was extremely closely contested as four different Urban Knights registered kills midway through a back-and-forth sequence before sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold delivered two straight service aces for a 16-15 advantage. The Cougars, however, would answer back with a 10-3 run to claim the frame 25-19.

APU carried that momentum into the second set, getting ahead 11-5 then pushing across seven consecutive points before a kill by junior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery. Sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton continued her perfect night offensively with a late kill, but Azusa Pacific would rise up 2-0 on the 25-11 result.

Neither side gained more than a three-point advantage through the first 23 points scored in the third frame. A 5-1 surge by the Cougars was rebutted by five of seven from ART U including two kills by sophomore outside hitter Celena Davison. Wheaton's 10th kill cut the APU lead down to 22-19 in the final stages, but APU ultimately completed the sweep on a 25-20 set victory.

Academy of Art moves to 10-14 overall and 7-9 in PacWest action. Wheaton finished with 10 kills and no errors on 15 attack attempts for a .667 hitting percentage and junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera added seven kills. Reinhold produced her 17th double-double of the year with 31 assists and 11 digs.

Winning its fourth consecutive match, Azusa Pacific improved to 20-4 on the year and 14-2 in conference play with the result. Annaka Jorgenson paced the Cougars with 12 kills.

It will be a short turnaround for ART U who closes the week with a 2 p.m. first serve against Point Loma in San Diego tomorrow.