AZUSA, Calif. – Inside Felix Event Center for its first and only Pacific West Conference matchup with Azusa Pacific this season, Academy of Art volleyball was in lock step with the Cougars throughout the opening set until consecutive blocks capped a 4-0 run to capture the frame, but APU responded with efficient hitting to achieve the 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-10) comeback on Friday.

After securing a 10-7 lead thanks to a 6-1 run highlighted by kills from graduate student opposite Claire Ricard, freshman outside hitter Kerrigan Habing, and graduate student middle blocker Chandra Reed, ART U was met with Azusa Pacific's own push to keep things even down the stretch. The sides were knotted six times between 16-16 and 22-22 before Reed's kill started four straight scores that included back-to-back blocks by junior right side/middle blocker Katherine Von Kraut and graduate student middle blocker/outside hitter Fina Tuinauvai for a 25-22 victory.

Like the opening set, the two squads exchanged short bursts early then settled into back-and-forth action midway through the second frame. From a 17-17 deadlock, however, APU closed out a 25-19 match-evening win with an 8-2 run, finishing with 15 kills to just one error in the set.

Academy of Art's most efficient hitting percentage (.421) came in the third frame where five different Urban Knights delivered kills during a 6-3 start, but the Cougars worked their way back to eventually lead 18-12. A clutch 5-1 surge that featured three consecutive kills by Ricard brought ART U right back and a 6-3 shift in the visitors' favor soon evened the set at 23-23. The match-altering points were won by APU on a kill and service ace, giving them a 25-23 win and 2-1 advantage in the contest.

The momentum remained with Azusa Pacific in the fourth set as the home side built a 12-6 lead that multiple kills from Ricard and Reed could not surmount as the match ended with the Cougars in front 25-10.

The Urban Knights move to 6-21 overall and 5-14 in PacWest action though three hitters achieved double-digit kills in Habing (13), Reed (10), and Ricard (10). Senior setter Elly McInerney provided 27 assists while fellow senior setter Lina Ellilä totaled 15 of her own. Tuinauvai added five block assists and sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia did a little bit of everything, collecting five kills, 10 digs, three service aces, and three blocks.

Azusa Pacific, now 15-11 on the year and 11-8 in conference play, was paced by Kendyl MacAskill's match-high 20 kills along with 17 from Sarah Wilson and 50 assists for Brooklyn Kostoff.

ART U will finish its 2024 season tomorrow at Vanguard with first serve set for 2 p.m. in Costa Mesa.