SAN FRANCISCO – Playing almost two sets worth of volleyball in the opening stanza, Academy of Art and Point Loma battled back and forth throughout Saturday's Pacific West Conference rematch inside Kezar Pavilion until the Sea Lions emerged 3-1 winners (37-35, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17).

The Urban Knights countered a 4-0 start by their opponents with a 6-1 run soon after as sophomore middle blocker Kaia Fittz sent down multiple blocks and added a kill to two from graduate student outside hitter Amalie Rupertova. The sides worked from a 9-9 tie to successive 15-15 and 18-18 scores as ART U caused a significant shift with seven consecutive points on the strength of kills by freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia, Fittz, Rupertova, and consecutive service aces off the hand of graduate student outside hitter/right side Maya McClellan.

Though Academy of Art was just two points away from the win at 23-18 then had set point at 24-20, an incredible five straight scores by PLNU suddenly turned the tables. Neither side could manage three points in a row thereafter as counter punches were continuously thrown in a frame that featured 16 set points. Clutch kills came from McClellan, freshman outside hitter/right side Crystal Creek, Rupertova, and graduate student middle blocker Chandra Reed down the stretch that ultimately ended 37-35 on a Sea Lions kill and service ace.

Despite the exhausting first set, Academy of Art went right to work building a 6-1 advantage to begin the second frame, using a combined block from Reed and McClellan, a kill by Creek, and Rupertova's service ace to power the surge. Point Loma rallied back though could not wrestle away the ART U advantage as an eventual 5-0 run with numerous highlights from McClellan and Rupertova fended off the opportunity. The Knights continued to stay in front with timely offense all before three consecutive points (two on kills by McClellan and Rupertova) evened the match at a set apiece with the 25-20 result in favor of the home team.

The momentum continued in the third set as four different Knights offered kills during a 7-3 start, but this time a 7-1 rebuttal by PLNU caused the lead to change hands as it would four more times as the set progressed. Up 20-19, Academy of Art could not finish off the frame victoriously as kills by McClellan and Rupertova were not enough while the Sea Lions closed on a 6-2 run for the 25-22 win.

A 7-1 push in the early stages of the fourth set had Point Loma ahead 11-5 and that margin would hold until three kills from Reed helped shorten the margin to 18-14. In the end, however, PLNU used a 7-3 burst to take the final frame 25-17, ending the day inside Kezar Pavilion.

Academy of Art moves to at 2-18 on the year and 1-12 in PacWest matchups after three Knights, Rupertova (16), McClellan (12), and Reed (10), posted kills in double figures. Double-doubles were also turned in by Rupertova (16 kills, 15 digs), McClellan (12 kills, 16 digs), and junior setters Elly McInerney (24 assists, 10 digs) and Lina Ellilä (21 assists, 13 digs). Fittz offered five blocks (two solo, three assisted) and freshman libero LC-Reece Nakagawa collected 23 digs.

Point Loma remains undefeated in conference play, improving to 15-4 overall and 12-0 versus PacWest opponents. Four Sea Lions finished with double-digit kills led by Bailey Williams' 17 while Sophia Baugh added 26 assists, Anna Massari provided nine blocks, and Macy Reynolds amassed 23 digs.

ART U recognizes breast cancer awareness with its "Dig Pink" matchup, the end to its current homestand, this Monday, Oct. 23 versus Concordia. First serve is set for 5 p.m.