SAN FRANCISCO – With its fan base passionately supporting every step of the way, Academy of Art volleyball triumphed over Notre Dame de Namur 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21) in exciting fashion on Wednesday inside Kezar Pavilion. On "Dig Pink Night" and with ART U Baseball alumni Zak May in their hearts, the Urban Knights had stellar performances up and down the roster in what was an electrifying win.

After a heartfelt pre-match announcement rallying the Academy of Art family around May's current battle with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma (support at www.artuathletics.com/ZakMay), ART U quickly established a 10-4 lead.  Junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera dropped three consecutive service aces during the stretch and the Knights would maintain that margin down the stretch. Junior middle blocker Carly Evetts and Figueroa Ferriera accounted for the team's final four kills as Academy of Art opened 25-18 winners.

The Pacific West Conference matchup was not without drama, however, as NDNU made an impressive second-set comeback. Repeated kills by sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton and junior middle blocker Sadie Emery established a 17-11 advantage for ART U, but the Argonauts scored eight of the frame's final nine points to even things up following a 25-23 result.

Using some of their own momentum, Notre Dame de Namur moved in front 15-11 midway through the third set only to watch that lead subsequently dissolve almost immediately. Junior libero Catharina Brant Bambirra served strong, acing NDNU at one point during the stretch and soon back-to-back Wheaton put-aways shifted the Knights ahead 17-15. In what became a 10-2 surge, Academy of Art took charge and did not relinquish their grip on what became a crucial 25-21 victory thanks to a clever kill by sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold.

Now knowing the Knights were one set away from taking the match, the crowd became louder and even more vibrant throughout the fourth. From a 14-14 tie, Academy of Art went up 18-15, but four straight from the Argos gave the visitors a one-point lead. The biggest run of the night ensued with kills by Figueroa Ferriera and junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak giving way to two Figueroa Ferriera consecutive service aces and eventually a 6-0 push. Though NDNU fought back against a pair of match points, the crowd erupted on a service error that secured ART U's 25-21 set victory.

Winners of two of their first three home matches of the season, Academy of Art had four different players notch double-figures in kills led by 13 from Figueroa Ferriera plus 18 digs for her fifth double-double of the year. Two of the team's top hitting percentages led Evetts (.344) and Wheaton (.400) to 12 kills apiece while Emery matched her career-high with 11 kills. Reinhold also tied her career-high with 47 assists in addition to 17 digs, composing her team-high seventh double-double in 2019.

Notre Dame de Namur drops to 2-8 on the season and 1-2 in conference play. Diamond Hollis lead the team with 13 kills and 17 digs while Samantha Johnson added a double-double in the form of 26 assists and 15 digs.

For the second consecutive week, the Urban Knights will go back-to-back this Friday and Saturday with Point Loma (Sept. 27) and Azusa Pacific (Sept. 28) entering Kezar Pavilion.