BELMONT, Calif. – After trading blows throughout four sets of no fewer than 23 points on each side, everything changed when Academy of Art volleyball and Dominican stepped into a decisive fifth frame Thursday night inside Walter Gleason Gym. The Urban Knights turned up the heat both offensively and defensively during a 9-1 start and eventually outlasted the Penguins 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 28-26, 23-25, 15-8) thanks to strong efforts from all eight student-athletes to touch the floor.

Points oscillated early before a 9-3 surge elevated ART U 12-7 over DU with both graduate student outside hitters Amalie Rupertova and Maya McClellan swinging for multiple kills. Though Dominican steadily worked its way back to an 18-18 score, two Rupertova terminations and back-to-back blocks by sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut and freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz keyed a four quick points. The Penguins cut the margin to one multiple times thereafter only to come no closer as McClellan sent down the final kill of a 25-23 win.

A slight 6-5 lead for Academy of Art soon shifted the opponents' way on an 8-3 run in the second set and, though the Knights remained close thereafter, four straight points by Dominican neared an even match at 23-17. Junior setter Elly McInerney would then score a kill to start six of the next seven points for her squad as she also set up Rupertova and senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton along the way. ART U would fight off four consecutive set points before finally relenting as the visitors prevailed by their own 25-23 score.

Five total ties came ahead of Dominican's 7-0 push midway through the third set, but Academy of Art answered with a 10-3 rebuttal that included three kills by McClellan, two from Rupertova, and a service ace by senior libero Isaura Santos. Knotted up at 21-21, the teams traded scores until consecutive kills by Rupertova and Von Kraut forced set point only the back-and-forth action continued. Ultimately it was a pair of Penguin attack errors that ended the frame with ART U on top 28-26.

Runs of three straight points were exchanged to start the fourth set then Dominican rallied for multiple three-point advantages yet the Knights brought clutch hitting late to come all the way back. From down 22-19, Academy of Art got Rupertova and Fittz to combine for three kills to power ART U to move in front 23-22. The Penguins remained resilient, however, taking the final three points, winning 25-23, and forcing a fifth frame.

Firing on all cylinders, the Knights had the tandem of Rupertova and Wheaton combine on a block, Wheaton hold strong on a solo block, then each connected for kills during a 5-0 start to the fifth set. After a Von Kraut kill extended the Academy of Art lead to 9-1, the scoreboard read 12-3 following an emphatic block by Fittz and McInerney. Kills from McClellan and Von Kraut ensued and soon ART U was celebrating the 15-8 set victory and the contest's result overall.

Winners of their fourth five-set match this season, the Urban Knights improve to 4-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Among the impressive performances across the board that led to the Knights' highest kill total of the year (67) was Rupertova's fifth double-double of the season which saw her tie her season-high with 24 kills while adding 11 digs and three block assists. A season-best 22 digs mixed with 14 kills as McClellan posted her sixth double-double of the year, finding her teammates for a season-high six assists as well.

The first double-double of Von Kraut's collegiate career saw her deliver 15 kills and a career-best 12 digs along with four block assists while McInerney logged career-highs with 48 assists and five kills. Defensively, Wheaton highlighted ART U's season-high 11 total blocks (20 assisted) with one block solo and five block assists up front and Santos contributed 23 digs.

Dominican remains in search of its first win of the season now at 0-13 overall and 0-6 versus PacWest opponents. Ella Heckman led the Penguins with 18 kills while Gabi Maiocco amassed 58 assists to support four hitters with double-digit kills.

When Academy of Art takes the floor next it will be to host Azusa Pacific on Wednesday, Oct. 5 with an earlier start time of 4 p.m. back inside Walter Gleason Gym.