SAN FRANCISCO – After the first two tightly-played sets were shifted momentum with late Concordia runs, Academy of Art volleyball made its own move to secure the third frame, but could not engineer a comeback in a 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18) loss to the Golden Eagles on Wednesday inside Kezar Pavilion.

Graduate student middle blocker Chandra Reed put away two kills during the match's first big run as the Urban Knights rattled off six straight points to go from down 9-6 to up 12-9. In front 17-15 after Reed combined with junior right side/middle blocker Katherine Von Kraut on a block, Von Kraut delivered a kill, and senior setter/defensive specialist Nina Garcia added service ace, ART U faced a tough response with CUI surging back on a 9-0 burst. Though three set points were denied by Academy of Art, the visitors ended up prevailing 25-20.

Strong at the net once again, Reed shouldered up with freshman outside hitter Kerrigan Habing during a quick 3-0 push to tie the second set at 8-8 then sophomore libero LC-Reece Nakagawa capped five unanswered scores with a back-to-back service aces, putting her team ahead 15-11. Two separate 5-0 runs brought Concordia the lead again and, despite consecutive blocks by graduate student middle blocker/outside hitter Fina Tuinauvai and Habing then graduate student opposite Claire Ricard and Reed that cut the deficit to three, CUI matched its opening-set win with another 25-20 final.

From a 10-10 tie in the third, both sides locked four more times before ART U gained separation on a 6-2 surge. Tuinauvai sent down two kills to open the series before a block combining Reed and Ricard ended it with the Knights on top 19-15. Scoring five of the final six points with kills by three different hitters, Academy of Art bested Concordia 25-18 to bring a fourth set.

The Golden Eagles made an early move to gather a 12-8 advantage in the frame that followed, but just two points separated the teams after sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia authored a solo block during three unanswered scores for the Knights. From 19-17, CUI made one last push on five straight, ending the night on another 25-18 result.

Academy of Art, now 4-11 on the season and 3-4 in conference play, was led by sophomore outside hitter Paola Divis' nine kills and season-high 16 digs while Reed posted eight kills with five block assists. Ricard and Tuinauvai combined for 14 kills, senior setter Elly McInerney posted her fourth consecutive double-double (fifth of the season) with 30 assists and 10 digs, and Nakagawa provided 20 digs for the third time in her last four outings.

Concordia rises above .500 to 8-7 this year with a 3-4 PacWest record identical to that of ART U. Pacing three Golden Eagles with double-digit kills, Kayden Croy logged a match-high 18 kills along with 15 digs and nine blocks.

The Urban Knights continue their busy week by hosting Vanguard this Friday, Oct. 11 back inside Kezar Pavilion at 6:30 p.m.