FRESNO, Calif. – It was a close battle through the first two sets of a Pacific West Conference match against Fresno Pacific, but despite leading the second set late and a match-high 14 kills from freshman outside hitter Ashley Mecham, it was FPU that walked away victorious with a three-set win over ART U (25-23, 25-23, 25-16).

Both teams were ready for the challenge on Wednesday, as neither side could establish a large lead in the first set. While the Urban Knights (0-5, 0-5 PacWest) hung within striking distance of the Sunbirds (9-2, 4-1 PacWest), ART U could not find a scoring run to take the momentum and capture the set win despite both teams posting 12 kills apiece.

The second set started out much the same as the first, until the Knights found their groove and reeled off 9-1 run to establish their largest lead of any set. Six of the points came with Mecham at the serving line, while freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut was responsible for the final two points. However, a service error would allow FPU to regain possession, and ultimately the Sunbirds would come from behind to capture the second set with an identical score as the first. 

It was all Fresno Pacific in the third even though ART U had another 12 kills in the set, as FPU posted their best attack percentage (.429) thanks to a match-high 14 kills and only two attack errors. 

By the end of the match, Mecham had posted her third double-double of the season, adding 11 digs to her 14 kills. Just behind her total for the Urban Knights was Von Kraut, chipping in 13 kills of her own. Junior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton posted the best attack percentage (.357), while freshman setter Nina Garcia collected 30 assists and senior libero Ashley Pawlak paced the team with 20 digs. 

It will be over a week before ART U returns to the court, but when they do so it will be the final match of the season against Dominican, taking place from the Conlan Recreation Center on Friday, Apr. 16 at 4 p.m.