SAN DIEGO – Academy of Art volleyball led late in the opening set and made strong pushes in the final stages of the next two frames, but Point Loma managed to collect the 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-19) Pacific West Conference victory inside their own Golden Gymnasium on Friday night.

Three different Urban Knights recorded kills during ART U's 4-2 start to the match as graduate student outside hitters Amalie Rupertova and Maya McClellan as well as senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton all swung with success. Four consecutive points by the Sea Lions followed a 6-6 tie and the home team would force a six-point lead thereafter. Academy of Art, however, surged back in front on the strength of a 9-2 run highlighted early by a block from both Wheaton and freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz then a solo rejection by Wheaton late. The Knights repeatedly gained the advantage and were up 23-22 on back-to-back Rupertova kills, but PLNU countered with three kills of its own for the 25-23 win.

Although Point Loma gained a five-point advantage to open the second frame, ART U was quickly back in with Fittz sending down a kill and McClellan adding a service ace during a 4-0 response. The Sea Lions then steadily built a 16-10 margin before five consecutive points had them knocking on the door of a 2-0 lead. McClellan and Rupertova would then power another four straight scores for Academy of Art, but PLNU still managed to walk away 25-17 victors.

Of the first 20 points of the third set, 13 were taken by Point Loma, but the Knights began to string together offensive successes to keep the difference in the single digits. From a 20-10 score, ART U's comeback saw multiple kills and multiple block assists, bringing the visitors to within five at 24-19. The end result, however, was match point won by the Sea Lions thereafter at 25-19.

ART U, now 4-16 on the year and 3-8 in PacWest action, was led by 13 kills from Rupertova as well as nine kills and 10 digs from McClellan. Junior setter Elly McInerney provided 26 assists while the tandem of Fittz and freshman libero Ainsley Robare each collected 12 digs apiece (a season-high for Fittz). Of Wheaton's three blocks, one was a block solo which put her now tied for second with Margaret Winkler (38) among the Knights' career block solo leaders.

The win puts Point Loma at 13-5 overall and 8-2 against conference opponents with Abigail Nua's 14 kills and Lauren Phillips' 36 assists each pacing the team.

Taking the court again in less than 24 hours, Academy of Art is set to rematch Concordia tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. in Irvine.