SAN FRANCISCO – Despite being just two points away from a set win to start the two teams' first official Pacific West Conference matchup to date, Academy of Art could not get past Jessup in what was a 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-19) result for the Warriors inside Kezar Pavilion on Thursday evening.

On multiple occasions in the early stages of the contest, the Warriors built leads with runs, but ART U continued to fight back. A block combining the middle blocker/outside hitter tandem of sophomore Alohi Garcia and graduate student Fina Tuinauvai highlighted four straight from the Urban Knights to pull within one at 11-10, but the visitors countered with a 6-2 push. Down by four, Academy of Art had more memorable plays from Tuinauvai including a kill and another block to get in front 21-20. The sides traded two-point sequences thereafter until freshman outside hitter Kerrigan Habing's kill knotted the score at 24-24 before Jessup claimed the final points for the 26-24 victory.

The Warriors' 10-8 advantage grew to 20-12 in the second frame yet ART U resiliently delivered six unanswered scores with Alohi Garcia putting away two kills and graduate student middle blocker Chandra Reed capping the surge with a solo block. That run had the margin down to two at 20-18, but Jessup burst back to move ahead 2-0 in sets on a 25-18 final.

On top 14-9 to begin the third set, Jessup suddenly saw its lead evaporate by way of the Knights' 8-1 momentum shift as sophomore libero LC-Reece Nakagawa connected on multiple service aces in the comeback. Academy of Art led 18-16 approaching the last portion of the frame when a 9-1 rebuttal from the visitors allowed them to end the night 25-19.

ART U, now 5-15 on the year and 4-8 in PacWest play, saw Habing finish with a team-high nine kills while Alohi Garcia added seven plus three block assists and Tuinauvai matched her teammate's block total along with six kills. Senior setter Elly McInerney provided 14 assists and Nakagawa amassed 20 digs to lead all competitors.

Jessup reaches .500 overall at 8-8 with a 4-5 conference record after Taylor MacCuish ended on 15 kills and Kenzie Carpenter totaled 33 assists and 13 digs.

At home to close out the month of October, Academy of Art hosts Menlo this Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. for Dig Pink to raise breast cancer awareness.