Box Score San Rafael, CA – ART U Volleyball found its rhythm after a tough first set and pushed Seattle Pacific into a tie-breaking fifth frame, but came up just short in its PacWest/GNAC Crossover opener. Sophomores Emily Papale and Melissa Brum combined with senior Brittany Ulmer for 40 kills in the hard-fought 3-2 final.

It was an early 9-4 first set lead for Seattle Pacific, but offense in the form of kills by Papale and Ulmer helped the Knights stay competitive. SPU went on another run to open up a 10-point lead and, while Isabel Emrich initiated a 5-2 push by the Knights, the margin was too great and the Falcons prevailed 25-17.

The first set did not sit well with Academy of Art and they quickly bounced back with a 12-4 start to the second. Brum had kills early on then it was a 5-0 surge with Kanoe Irvine sending quality serves into the Seattle Pacific formation. As the teams traded points the rest of the way, ART U ultimately stood victorious and evened the match with a 25-16 win.

A crucial third set went back-and-forth and again featured several points scored with Irvine on the serve. Three consecutive kills combining Papale and Brum helped put the Knights ahead 15-13, but the teams were soon tied 20-20 and deadlocked three times thereafter before three straight Falcon points ended the set 25-23.

A crucial third set went back-and-forth and again featured several points scored with Irvine on the serve. Three consecutive kills combining Papale and Brum helped put the Knights ahead 15-13, but the teams were soon tied 20-20 and deadlocked three times thereafter before three straight Falcon points ended the set 25-23.

In the fourth, ART U went on a 7-1 run to take a 10-6 lead as Margaret Winkler and Papale got the squad rolling. SPU was forced to call its two timeouts early in an attempt to slow the Knights, but it was not to be as an Ulmer ace made it 18-10. Despite a 6-2 Seattle Pacific push late in the set, Papale's kill finished off the 25-18 set victory.

Seattle Pacific jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth and never looked back. Brum's pair of kills helped the Knights close the gap to five points, but SPU went on to 6-2 run to close out the 15-6 set victory.

For ART U, now 3-2 on the year, Papale led the way with 16 kills and 14 digs while fellow sophomore Brum added 14 points and 14 digs for her fourth double-double in her first five matches. Smith finished with 47 assists, Ulmer posted 10 kills, and Isabel Emrich offered eight kills with 14 digs. Irvine finished with a team-high 18 digs as well.

ART U will be back in action tomorrow morning to continue the PacWest/GNAC Crossover, going up against Western Oregon at 11:00 AM.