SAN FRANCISCO -- Going the distance for the fourth consecutive Pacific West Conference home match, Academy of Art volleyball used balanced contributions all around to push past Hawaii Pacific 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 25-16, 20-25, 15-7) inside Kezar Pavilion on Wednesday evening.

A strong beginning to the first set had ART U up 6-3 on a kill from freshman outside hitter/right side Crystal Creek, but the Sharks steadily worked their way back with a 10-3 run. After gaining the lead, the visitors would not relinquish it toward a 25-18 result.

Sophomore middle blocker Kaia Fittz made an immediate impact in the second frame, delivering a kill and later a service ace amid an 8-4 start that also featured multiple kills from freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia. Though HPU came back to tie and hold brief leads, the set finished with Academy of Art using a 6-1 surge, complete with two Creek kills, to win 25-23.

Carrying that momentum into the third frame, the Urban Knights jumped out to an 11-4 advantage powered by decisive swings from graduate student outside hitters Amalie Rupertova and Maya McClellan. The Sharks briefly threatened the margin, but ART U shut the door with a 11-3 push that started with multiple service aces (two from Fittz) and finished with four different Knights sending down kills in the 25-16 victory.

Hawaii Pacific took control of the fourth set early by way of a 12-3 start and, though Academy of Art closed the gap to four points late, the Sharks managed to force a fifth frame on their 25-20 equalizer.

The teams traded a point apiece to open the final set, but then nine straight scores including two Rupertova kills essentially decided the match as the Knights remained in front and closed out the 15-7 final on back-to-back put-aways by McClellan.

ART U moves to 2-12 overall and 1-6 in conference play following three more double-doubles as McClellan finished with 17 kills and 11 digs, Rupertova offered 16 kills with a season-high 19 digs, and junior setter Lina Ellilä added 33 assists plus 12 digs. Freshman libero LC-Reece Nakagawa contributed 22 digs while Fittz recorded a career-high six service aces (tied for second-most in program history).

Hawaii Pacific remains in search of its first win now at 0-10 on the season and 0-6 in PacWest matchups. Ella Dotson's 11 kills led the Sharks along with Tehani Pescaia's 17 assists and Kylie Komo's 22 digs.

Academy of Art plays its fifth consecutive home match tomorrow as the Urban Knights host No. 18 Chaminade from Kezar Pavilion at 3:30 p.m.