SAN FRANCISCO – Back inside the familiar confines of Kezar Pavilion for the first time this season, it did not take long for Academy of Art volleyball to find its rhythm against Concordia (Calif.). A competitive opening set gave way to confident and dominant play in the three sets that followed before ART U came away 3-1 winners (21-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-17) on Friday night. Three double-doubles demonstrated the Urban Knights' ability on both the offensive and defensive sides throughout the contest.

Very close early on as the teams felt each other out, Academy of Art's first Pacific West Conference set of the year swung their way with a 6-1 run to make it 17-11 as junior middle blocker Sadie Emery, junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera, and junior middle blocker Carly Evetts all notched kills. An 8-0 response from the Eagles, however, gave them a brief lead and the visitors would go on to score the final four points of the match from a 21-21 deadlock, winning 25-21.

Junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak sent down three kills in her team's first six points of the second set as ART U built another lead. Concordia once again battled back and went up 10-8, but a 9-3 surge started by an Evetts block and Pawlak kill put the Knights back in front. The later stages saw Academy of Art score six of eight with more offense from that pair plus a service ace from junior defensive specialist Michaela Charrette and soon Evetts finished the 25-20 frame to even the match 1-1.

Initial offense from sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton and Pawlak pushed Academy of Art to a 10-2 lead out of the gate in the third set. The margin only grew further when ART U executed a 7-0 run that featured multiple service aces from Figueroa Ferriera. Concordia tried to mount a comeback, but ultimately it was Figueroa Ferriera who put the Eagles away with a kill at 25-16.

From a 9-8 CUI advantage in the fourth, ART U took control by scoring seven straight amid an 11-1 run. Emery and Figueroa Ferriera worked well in tandem, accounting for six kills during that stretch. The teams traded points thereafter, but soon the Knights closed it out with three consecutive scores toward the 25-17 final including a kill by sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold, her service ace, and ultimately the final kill from Pawlak.

Led by three players with double-digit kills, Academy of Art improved to 3-5 on the season. Pawlak's fourth straight double-double saw her go for a match-high 14 kills plus 14 digs while Figueroa Ferriera added 11 kills and 15 digs for her fourth consecutive double-double as well. Emery's season-high 10 kills were one shy of her career-high and Reinhold's team-best sixth double-double of the year came in the form of 29 assists with 18 digs.

The loss drops Concordia to 6-4 and it was only Riley Gill who reached double figures in kills (10) for the Eagles on Friday.

It will be a quick turnaround for ART U who hosts Biola tomorrow at 3 p.m. inside Kezar Pavilion once again.