FRESNO, Calif. – Academy of Art volleyball led by three or more points in each set, but Fresno Pacific consistently made moves late to walk away with the 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-20) Pacific West Conference win inside the Sunbirds' Special Events Center on Saturday afternoon.

Though FPU scored the first two points of the day, ART U came back with eight of the next 10 including two kills apiece by sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut and graduate student outside hitter Maya McClellan plus a solo block by sophomore middle blocker Janaya Delone. A 7-2 Sunbirds response then tied the opening set twice before the teams settled at a 14-14 deadlock. It was then that an 8-1 run gave the home team the necessary separation for a 25-17 victory.

Each side took a turn leading the second set as Fresno Pacific was up 5-3 before four straight by the Knights was started by kills from graduate student Amalie Rupertova and freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz. The Academy of Art advantage eventually grew to 12-8, but a steady Sunbirds comeback soon knotted things at 14-14. Five more ties later, ART U was in the midst of establishing a 22-20 lead on consecutive blocks by senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton who first combined with Rupertova then did the honors solo. In the end, however, another push by FPU put them over the top 25-23.

Von Kraut continued her success on offense with two kills during the Knights' 5-2 start to the third frame and, powered by numerous kills by Ruperova, the margin became 12-7 and remained at 16-11 on junior setter Elly McInerney's service ace. Like the first two sets, Fresno Pacific proceeded to make its move, scoring five consecutive points to tie then six of the final seven for a 25-20 result and the match.

ART U, now 3-12 overall and 2-4 against PacWest opponents, was paced by Von Kraut's 12 kills which came on her second-highest hitting percentage of the season (.421). Rupertova added 11 kills and nine digs while McClellan contributed eight kills. The tandem of freshman setter Ainsley Robare and McInerney finished with 17 and 16 assists apiece with the latter adding two service aces. Delone totaled two block solos, helping lead the Knights to tie their season-high of four in the match.

Moving to 6-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play following the day's results, Fresno Pacific looked to Makena Ogas for 13 kills while Cambria Waites amassed 10 kills as well.

Returning to play its first home match since Sept. 10, Academy of Art will host Holy Names on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the start to a four-part homestand at Walter Gleason Gym in Belmont.