BELMONT, Calif. – The Urban Knights matched No. 24 Chaminade point for point in the early going, but Monday's Pacific West Conference contest ended in the hands of the visitors to Walter Gleason Gym 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-20) despite a match-high kill total from junior outside hitter Isaura Santos.

After freshman outside hitter Ashley Mecham's kill, Santos sent down the next three for Academy of Art as the teams traded leads and ties. Freshman setter Nina Garcia provided a service ace during ART U's 4-1 run to go up 12-11, but the Silverswords responded with their own 4-1 push and soon the squads were once again tied, 15-15, following kills by junior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton and freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut. A 6-0 push by Chaminade came immediately thereafter and, though Von Kraut punctuated another 4-1 surge for the comeback, the result was a 25-19 win for the Swords.

Santos, Mecham, and the Knights fought back against an early deficit in the second set, but the visitors would gain separation by way of a 5-0 run. Academy of Art shortened the gap to four points when freshman middle blocker Janaya Delone and Von Kraut combined for a block, but it quickly moved to 10 points and Chaminade gained a two-set advantage on its 25-13 score.

Both Mecham and Santos provided pairs of kills in the initial stages of the third frame, however, the Swords steadily built a 16-9 margin. The first two kills of Delone's collegiate career plus another block assist highlighted an energetic 4-0 run to bring the Knights to within three points at 16-13 yet Chaminade continued to apply pressure en route to a 22-14 lead. Kills by Santos, redshirt senior opposite Kiersten Kerch, and senior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery all then came amid a 6-2 final push which included multiple set points fought off, but the Swords were able to prevail 25-20 for the match.

Academy of Art moves to 4-8 on the season and 1-3 in PacWest action. Leading the way for ART U, Santos finished with a match-high nine kills plus nine digs while Mecham was close behind with eight kills and nine digs as well. Junior setter Picabo Reinhold offered 26 assists and senior libero Catharina Brant Bambirra joined her teammates with nine digs as well.

For the Silverswords, who are now 12-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play, were paced by eight kills apiece from Lataisia Saulala and Annah Rivera. Alexia Byrnes collected 31 assists and Anna Dalla Vecchia posted a match-high 18 digs.

The Knights will next face UH Hilo this Wednesday, Sept. 29 inside Holy Names' Tobin Gymnasium in Oakland. Fans will not be permitted for this contest which is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.