BELMONT, Calif. – Monday's Pacific West Conference rematch started on a confident note for Academy of Art volleyball as the Urban Knights bested UH Hilo by nearly 10 points, but the Vulcans managed to turn the tide toward their eventual 3-1 (14-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-17) victory thereafter. Graduate student outside hitters Amalie Rupertova and Maya McClellan each finished with double-doubles, but it was not enough inside Walter Gleason Gym.

Nine of the match's first 10 points were scored by ART U with McClellan and freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz accounting for two kills apiece. Rupertova's second kill of the evening then made it a 12-6 opening set and Fittz stepped up once again to put away a kill before teaming with sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut for a block during a 6-1 run soon after. UH Hilo started to find a rhythm, but the momentum remained in the Knights' court as senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton's kill forced set point which Academy of Art won for the 25-14 result.

Back-and-forth action became a signature of the second set as the teams exchanged three-point rallies on multiple occasions before ART U moved in front 17-14 thanks to three kills from Rupertova amid a 5-1 surge. The Vulcans responded with six of the next eight scores and, from a 20-20 tie later, they strung together three points and fended off a Knights comeback for the 25-23 victory.

After UH Hilo created separation via a 6-1 run in the early stages of the third set, six unanswered by the Vulcans had them up double digits at 19-8. The frame then became quite a battle with Von Kraut logging a solo block and freshman libero Ainsley Robare delivering a service ace during Academy of Art's ensuing 7-1 run. ART U closed the gap to four points multiple times, but UH Hilo outlasted for the 25-19 triumph.

The Vulcans got ahead 10-6 in the fourth frame and never looked back, adding four consecutive points before trading points with Academy of Art until a 25-17 final ended the contest.

Opening their final week of the season, the Urban Knights are now 6-21 overall and 5-13 in PacWest play. Rupertova logged her eighth double-double of the season with 15 kills (hitting .344) and 10 digs while McClellan reached double digits in double-doubles, finishing with 11 kills and 11 digs. Von Kraut added eight kills and Wheaton had seven kills with no errors plus four block assists. Fittz also had four block assists, junior setter Elly McInerney provided 38 assists and Robare ended with 16 digs.

UH Hilo becomes winners of back-to-back matches and 4-21 overall as well as 4-15 against conference opponents. Cara Bolte led all competitors with 22 kills.

Following a day off tomorrow, Academy of Art hosts Chaminade on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. back inside Walter Gleason Gym.