LA MIRADA, Calif. – Hitting for an efficient 10 kills in each of the first two sets, Academy of Art volleyball captured a 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-23) Pacific West Conference victory over Biola on Friday night inside Chase Gymnasium. ART U separated from the Eagles with surges midway through each of those frames before outlasting the home team in the third.

"It's a good feeling to get back in the win column and an even greater feeling to know we went out and earned it," said Head Coach Mike Gomez. "Our team fought its way out of a slump and we played fast, with great energy, and intentional communication. The synergy that happens when we control those things goes to show how strong of a team we can be and that's what happened tonight. I'm extremely proud of our team."

Battling back from down 17-15, the Urban Knights executed a 5-1 run bookended by kills from sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia with the last of those scores highlighted by an impressive effort from freshman libero/defensive specialist Kyriah Trefren to keep the point alive. Graduate student Chandra Reed recorded a quick put-away for the 23-21 advantage before freshman outside hitter Kerrigan Habing's kill forced set point. The momentum held for a 25-22 victory which came on a strong block by Alohi Garcia and Reed.

From 9-9 in the second, Academy of Art rattled off five unanswered points and extended it to a 7-1 push with junior right side/middle blocker Katherine Von Kraut connecting on multiple kills. Graduate student opposite Claire Ricard added back-to-back spikes and Von Kraut combined with Reed for an impressive block down the stretch as ART U secured the second frame 25-14.

Though Academy of Art appeared to have shifted the third set with a 4-1 burst that gave the visitors a 19-17 lead, Biola responded and ultimately stared at a 22-22 tie ahead of the final sequence. Two service miscues and an attack error proved costly for BU as those points ended the night with the Knights on top 25-23.

Moving to 6-16 on the year and 5-9 in conference play, Academy of Art surpasses both its overall and PacWest win totals from last season. A balanced attack featured seven kills from Habing as well as six apiece from Von Kraut, Ricard, and Alohi Garcia. Senior setter Elly McInerney posted 14 assists, sophomore libero LC-Reece Nakagawa added 14 digs, and Reed finished with five block assists to tie her season-best for the second time.

Biola falls to 5-16 overall and 3-10 in PacWest action despite Payton Tully's match-high 14 kills.

Finishing their Southern California trip tomorrow, the Knights will meet Westmont for the first time this season at 2 p.m. in Montecito.