LA JOLLA, Calif. – It was another thrill ride for Academy of Art volleyball on the second day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase back inside RIMAC Arena on Saturday. The Urban Knights started by pulling off their second consecutive comeback win, toppling Montana State Billings 3-1 (23-25, 28-26, 27-25, 25-20). With the world watching, ART U then grabbed a two-set advantage and later multiple set points in the fifth frame, but UC San Diego managed to squeak out a 3-2 victory (22-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-19, 16-14) in a match televised on ESPN 3.

"The team accepted the challenges and were ready to compete in every match," said head coach Allen McCreary. "They are still growing, but are getting better every day."

MATCH 1 – ART U 3, MSUB 1
A 9-4 run gave the Yellowjackets an early margin, but when they reached set point at 24-17, the momentum quickly shifted. Up against it, Academy of Art fought back with six consecutive points including three straight kills by junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera. However, Montana State Billings ended up surviving for the 25-23 win.

From a 14-14 tie, MSUB rattled off four straight yet that margin was soon erased thanks to a 5-0 run sparked by another Figueroa Ferriera kill. Junior middle blocker Carly Evetts kills were on both ends of a late 4-0 surge, but the Yellowjackets stung for three straight, denying the set twice. Two more ties ensued then three consecutive points from ART U, one on a service ace from sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold, secured the 28-26 victory.

The momentum carried into the third set as the Knights jumped ahead 6-3, but the teams were once again locked in a battle late as ties came at 21-21 and 23-23 before sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton kept Montana State Billings from taking the set. That point would start a 4-1 run from ART U to take a crucial 2-1 advantage by way of the 27-25 set result.

Academy of Art made its move nine points into the fourth set, unleashing a 10-3 push that showed their versatility with five different Knights registering kills. Up 14-8, Academy of Art added on with another three straight kills from Figueroa Ferriera during one stretch then two key put-aways from Wheaton late for the 25-20 triumph and the match.

MATCH 2 – UCSD 3, ART U 2
Coming back from a 6-2 deficit, the Knights eventually took the lead 11-10 with five unanswered started by a kill and service ace from Wheaton. From a 22-22 tie, Academy of Art once again showed its offensive versatility with three different players recording kills en route to a 25-22 victory.

Passing well and serving strong, Academy of Art rose ahead 9-4 in the second frame and, after UC San Diego rebutted by tying things up 11-11, ART U surged back with a 7-0 run capped by kills from junior middle blocker Sadie Emery and junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak. The Knights did not allow the Tritons to gain much momentum thereafter and Reinhold finished off the 25-17 set win with a clever attack to an open corner.

"We were very confident with our serve and pass and it was working really well," said McCreary. "The goal was to keep them out of system and it made us be the more aggressive team."

From Academy of Art leading 13-12 in the third frame, UCSD proceeded to unleash a 13-2 run that helped them stave off defeat with a 25-15 result. Pawlak dropped back-to-back service aces and Figueroa Ferriera put down two consecutive kills to begin the fourth, but a 6-0 push and two separate 4-0 runs got UC San Diego to even the match following their 25-19 win.

Back and forth action started a highly dramatic fifth set and soon it was ART U on top 10-9 following the side change. A Pawlak kill, Evetts and Emery block, and an Evetts kill composed a thrilling 4-1 surge that got Academy of Art set point at 14-10. From there, however, the Tritons did the unthinkable, coming back with six unanswered points to win 16-14 and take the match.

Now 2-5 on the season, the Knights were led by double-doubles in each match from Figueroa Ferriera (18 kills and 16 digs, 12 kills and 20 digs), Pawlak (16 kills and 13 digs, 19 kills and 20 digs), and Reinhold (career-highs of 47 assists and 20 digs, 46 assists and 15 digs). Junior libero Catharina Brant Bambirra tied the fifth-most digs for a five-set match in Academy of Art history with 28 in the opening contest.

Montana State Billings exits the tournament with a 1-7 overall record, getting a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs from Maddi Vigil. Guided by 22 kills and 21 digs from Sydney Tekstra, UC San Diego moves to 5-3 with Saturday's win.

With its first two tournaments now complete, Academy of Art not only begins an eight-match homestand next, but also Pacific West Conference play at the same time. Concordia (Calif.) and Biola will be the first two opponents to step into Kezar Pavilion on Sept. 20 (7 p.m.) and Sept. 21 (3 p.m.).

"We will start to prepare one match at a time for conference play," said McCreary. "Team is where we should be."