BELMONT, Calif. – Unfazed by Concordia's strong start, Academy of Art volleyball fought back with a stellar second set, but could not keep the momentum going as the Eagles ended up 3-1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-14, 25-13) winners in the Pacific West Conference rematch inside Walter Gleason Gym on Friday evening.

Though freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut led the way with two early kills, it was CUI who built a 10-6 lead out of the gate. Junior outside hitter Isaura Santos and junior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton then worked well in tandem, each recording kills and combining for a block as those scores shortened the gap to a single point at 12-11. An 8-3 push then came from the visitors and, while kills from Santos kept her squad within striking distance, Concordia claimed the opening frame 25-19.

The first three points of set two were awarded to ART U, but the Eagles again moved in front 7-4 and soon another response came from the home team as back-to-back put-aways from Santos gave her team a 10-9 advantage. Following a lead change, Academy of Art applied pressure once more with a 9-2 burst highlighted by kills from Santos, Von Kraut, Wheaton, redshirt junior outside hitter Celena Davison, and senior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery. CUI, however, came all the way back from down six to tied at 24-24, but the Urban Knights then had Santos and Wheaton combine on a block and junior setter Picabo Reinhold's service ace finish off the match-evening 26-24 result.

Like the first two frames, Concordia found itself ahead 10-5 in the early going of the third yet again had that margin cut into by consecutive kills by Von Kraut. On this occasion, a 7-2 Eagles rally got them up 18-11 and they would not look back en route to a 25-14 final.

ART U's 3-0 opening to the fourth was countered by separate runs from CUI, settling at 12-6 for the opposition. Concordia controlled much of the remainder of the contest and eventually closed it out with a 25-13 win.

Now 8-17 overall and 5-12 in conference play this season, ART U got 13 kills apiece from Von Kraut and Santos with the latter collecting her seventh double-double of the year by way of 15 digs. Emery sent down nine kills on 11 attacks with no errors for an impressive .818 hitting percentage while Wheaton logged five blocks. Reinhold finished with 43 assists, senior defensive specialist Catharina Brant Bambirra posted 11 digs for her third time in double figures in her last three matches, and freshman libero Elena Torres matched her career-high with 31 digs.

Following its fifth consecutive victory, Concordia is now 18-6 on the season and 13-4 against PacWest opponents. Kirra Schulz had 15 kills to pace the team while Brianna Latigue added 44 assists and Hannah Tostado turned in six blocks.

Academy of Art will return to Walter Gleason Gym for its final home match of 2021 tomorrow with a Senior Day pre-match ceremony to honor outside hitter Celena Davison, defensive specialist Catharina Brant Bambirra, opposite Kiersten Kerch, middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery, and setter Picabo Reinhold taking place ahead of the 1 p.m. start against Biola.