Photo Gallery (images by Meg Williams & Samm McAlear)

San Francisco, CA -- Friday night was Senior Night for the Academy of Art women's volleyball team, and in front of the biggest crowd of the year, the senior class took center stage to finish off their career in style, defeating Notre Dame de Namur in four sets, 25-27, 25-22, 25-18, and 25-23.

Senior outside hitter Leinani Keanini had a career night for Academy of Art (10-17, 6-10 PWC), one that was the perfect way to cap a historic season for the libero-turned-attacker. Keanini set a program record for attempts in a four-game set, getting 64 chances at the net, and notched the third-best mark in Urban Knight history for kills in a four-gamer with 21. She now also owns all five of the top-five places for digs in history.

"I haven't played offense since high school, so I was nervous but also excited," said Keanini. "It was great to back and be an offensive player as well as a defensive player. I struggled a little bit in the beginning, getting my grip back on how to hit smart, but this team really helped me develop into the hitter that I am today."

Keanini went out on fire, putting up double-digit kills in her final nine matches, and a double-double in kills and digs in each of her final six matches. She also put up a rare 20-20 night, with her 21 kills and 29 digs. She ranks second in program history with 746 digs, and first in digs per set, and amassed 259 kills in only two years. Keanini will graduate with a degree in Fashion Merchandising.

"She's kind of a big deal. Being able to watch Leinani blossom as a player has been one of the most awesome experiences," head coach Allison Magner said. "I say that because her finesse part of the game has come alive at the end of the season, so she's not just going up with power now, she's utilizing her IQ for the game, which is through the roof, and has led this team to finish the way that we did. She is a blessing to have on this team."

"It really hasn't hit me yet. It's a bittersweet moment," said Bush. "It's closing one chapter in my life and opening another. I couldn't have done it without my teammates, and I wanted to go out strong. It was a very exciting game, and it definitely ended the way I wanted it to."

Bush ended her night with 10 kills and four total blocks, and finishes her career as the all-time leader in hitting percentage, and has totaled the second-most kills in program history with 545. She also ends her tenure as the Knights' most prolific blocker, notching 39 solo blocks and 208 block assists. Bush will graduate with a degree in Fashion Merchandising.

"Amy Bush has a knack for blocking that no one else on this team has," Magner said. "She tracks the ball really well and shuts down her hitters. We have tried to bring on her offensive game on a little bit more toward the end of the season, and she is a kid who is going to come and work hard every day to figure it out, and she did. She has become an insane player, and her performance at the end of the season has been impeccable."

The defensive effort was also there for the Knights, who had some lengthy battles with the Argonauts. Keanini led the way with 29 digs, but close behind her were freshman libero Midori Le (25 digs) and junior outside hitter Angela Heath, who also put up a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs. Also taking her turn in the spotlight was senior defensive specialist Nicolette Hagan, who had nine digs but also found her way into the offensive stats with three service aces.

"I'd been having ups and downs, and to come in and serve well in my last game and give a contribution felt good," said Hagan. "I feel really accomplished. It's been a good journey and It's awesome to say that I'm the first one to graduate from the team playing all four years."

Hagan will end her career as the Urban Knights Iron Woman, leading the program in matches played with 93. Hagan played in all 119 sets in 2009, and ranks second all-time in sets played with 309. She ranks third in ART U history with 688 digs, and will be the first to play four full years in an Urban Knight uniform, graduating in May with a degree in Multimedia Communications.

"Nicolette is a very special person to me," Coach Magner said about her four-year player. "She has had ups and downs, lefts and rights. She has played multiple different positions for us but at the end of the day she never asks any questions, and she goes out and has major grit. Talk about someone that you want on your side going into war and that's Nicolette Hagan. She came in tonight and although her defense has been impressive all season, coming in and scoring points was something that we've been working on. I was very proud."

The last senior on the team also put up big numbers, as Camille Board hit at a .381 clip, putting up 9 kills on 21 attempts. She also had three total blocks, and willed the Knights to victory in the go-ahead third set with three kills. Board almost ended her volleyball career after her freshman year at UC Santa Barbara, but her transfer to Academy of Art revitalized her love for the game.

"It hasn't really hit me yet. I never thought that I'd be in this situation," Board said. "When I left Santa Barbara I wasn't sure if I was going to play volleyball again, and now that it's my last practice and my last game it's weird. But it hasn't hit me yet because I know I'll be around."

Playing 78 matches as an Urban Knight, Camille finishes up her final year at ART U in the Top 5 in career kills, attempts, hitting percentage, total points,  and service aces. She leads program history in serve percentage with an outstanding .958 mark, and ranks second in career total blocks with 177. 

"Camille is valuable beyond words. Her passion for the game is something that you can't buy," Magner had to say about her middle blocker. "That kid has passion pouring out of her veins. She's got quick feet, she was actually was a tap dancer back in the day. The kid has feet and speed and moves when she wants to and truly showed that tonight. She's a joy to coach and it's been an honor. She's someone that everyone looks up to on and off the court."

For the Knights it was a fitting end to an up and down season. Academy of Art exacted retribution on Notre Dame de Namur, who they dropped a surprising match to earlier in the year, and the seniors led the way much as they had all year, and just as ART U had to adjust to losing key players going into this year, they'll have to learn to live without their seniors' contributions in 2012.

"It was gratifying. Satisfying," said Magner. "I can't even put into words how proud I am of the seniors, because they exceeded my expectations tonight, and they've really done an excellent job all season long, battling and coming to work every day and trying to make this team a family and play the way that we did tonight."