LA JOLLA, Calif. – Inside RIMAC Arena for the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase on Friday, Academy of Art volleyball's relentless play led them to a split including a thrilling win to end the day. In the tournament's opening matchup, ART U rallied past Chico State in an exciting extended second set, but ended up falling 3-1 (25-12, 27-29, 25-20, 25-20). The nightcap featured a come-from-behind victory over Saint Martin's 3-2 (22-25, 19-25, 25-12, 25-22, 15-9) keyed by the eighth-most digs (98) by the Urban Knights in program history.

MATCH 1 – CHICO 3, ART U 1
After a kill from freshman middle blocker Kylie Lenberg gave the Urban Knights a 5-4 lead in the first set, the Wildcats proceeded to execute an 8-2 run to move in front 12-6. Chico State would maintain the rest of the way to a 25-12 win.

An early burst came from Academy of Art at the start of the second frame as three successive kills came from different Knights for an 8-4 advantage. The teams remained close thereafter, but kills by junior middle blocker Carly Evetts continued to keep ART U in the driver's seat. A put-away by sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton gave her team a set point opportunity at 24-23, but the Wildcats responded. Four ties later, crucial kills by Evetts and Lenberg provided Academy of Art its third set point which junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak converted on a service ace for the 29-27 result, evening the match at one set apiece.

"We played well in the Chico match, we just made some momentum errors in long rallies that caused them to make some runs," said head coach Allen McCreary. "Our passing in the second set was a key and gave us a chance to get our middles involved which opened up our pin hitters."

Battling back from a 10-5 deficit to open the third set, Wheaton's kill capped a 5-1 rebuttal to make it 11-10. However, Chico State rattled off six of the next seven points and managed to hold on for the 25-20 set victory. Evetts continued to lead the charge, dropping three kills during an 8-2 start, but the Wildcats steadily made their comeback and used a 5-0 run midway through to take the lead 14-13. Chico State followed that up with a 6-1 push thereafter and repeated the 25-20 final for the 3-1 match victory.

MATCH 2 – ART U 3, SMU 2
Two separate early four-point advantages for Saint Martin's were both quickly wiped away and soon the teams found themselves tied 19-19, then 20-20, then 21-21 before the Saints prevailed 25-22. In the second frame, neither side held a lead greater than two points until SMU went up 17-14 on a 5-1 run and ultimately won 25-19.

From a 7-7 tie in the third set, Academy of Art launched into an impressive 10-0 run that saw Pawlak deliver four kills while junior libero Catharina Brant Bambirra rattled off four consecutive service aces in one stretch. Firmly in front, ART U made it a 2-1 matchup on a kill by junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera for the 25-12 win.

The Knights fell behind 9-3 to start set four, but came roaring back with an 8-1 surge that featured a triple block by Figueroa Ferriera, Evetts, and sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold. Saint Martin's would make another move ahead and found themselves on the verge of victory up 22-20. Showing tremendous resilience, Academy of Art proceeded to score the next five points with two kills from Figueroa Ferriera, shocking SMU with a 25-22 turnaround and a fifth set to follow.

From a 6-6 tie in the final frame, ART U surged once again, scoring five straight powered by a pair of Pawlak kills. The margin was enough as the teams went back and forth the rest of the way and Wheaton finished the 3-2 win with her season-high 15th kill.

Academy of Art moves to 1-4 on the season and was led by the a big 19-kill, 25-dig performance from Pawlak in the second contest. Wheaton added 15 kills with just one error for a sparkling .438 hitting percentage in that match while Reinhold posted two double-doubles, amassing 39 assists and 10 digs in the first then career-highs of 42 assists and 19 digs in the second. Evetts broke out for a season-high 17 kills with a single error (.364) in the first match then season-highs came for Figueroa Ferriera (11 kills, 22 digs) and Brant Bambirra (19 digs) in the finale.

"Stats-wise Jillian really dominated and Kobe [Reinhold] with her double-double was key for us," said McCreary. "When those two connect, they are hard to beat. As for tomorrow, we have some momentum with Billings who I believe are evenly-matched with us. UCSD is well-coached and they have some good players, but it should be a great challenge for us."

Chico State's win, their third in the tournament, put them at 4-3 this year and they were once again led by a match-high 23 kills from Bekah Boyle. Saint Martin's remains in search of its first win of 2019, dropping to 0-8 despite a team-best 12 kills and 19 digs from Gracie Brenner.

ART U is finishes the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase tomorrow with a noon matchup against Montana State Billings followed by a 5 p.m. first serve against tournament host UC San Diego.