BELMONT, Calif. – Meeting for the first time this season inside Walter Gleason Gym, Academy of Art volleyball and Azusa Pacific went blow-for-blow in an evenly-played second set, but the Cougars were able to come away with the Pacific West Conference win by a final score of 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-11) on Wednesday evening.
Both sophomore right side
Katherine Von Kraut and graduate student outside hitter
Amalie Rupertova swung for kills to start the contest, but APU built an 11-4 advantage by way of an 8-0 run. The teams traded points thereafter until Azusa Pacific rattled off six straight and, despite being denied three set points, the opening frame went the visitors' way 25-14.
Neither side could gain more than a three-point lead throughout most of the second set as a 10-7 margin for the Cougars quickly vanished after a 5-1 Urban Knights surge capped by Von Kraut's kill and a service ace from graduate student outside hitter
Maya McClellan. APU was later up 19-16 only to see a pair of kills from senior middle blocker
Jillian Wheaton keep ART U within striking distance. Wheaton and Von Kraut then teamed up for a block to make it a two-point deficit at 22-20, but Azusa Pacific managed to capture three of the final four points for a 25-21 win.
The Cougars jumped out to a 10-2 advantage at the start of the third frame before McClellan stopped the push with a kill which led to points being exchanged. A series of seven of eight scores by APU, however, then later helped the visitors finish off the 25-11 win for the day's sweep.
Leading Academy of Art, now 4-14 overall and 3-6 in PacWest play, was Von Kraut with seven kills while Rupertova added six kills. Wheaton posted five kills with no errors, junior setter
Elly McInerney finishes with 18 assists and nine digs, and McClellan reached double digits with 11 digs.
Azusa Pacific moved to 11-8 on the season and 7-3 in conference action with Annaka Jorgenson's 11 kills pacing three Cougars with double-figure kills.
ART U will conclude its four-part homestand this Saturday, Oct. 8 when the Knights host Biola at 7 p.m. back inside Walter Gleason Gym.
