SEATTLE – Academy of Art University volleyball started early and ended late, but the Urban Knights came away with two wins to start the PacWest-GNAC Crossover held inside Seattle Pacific's Brougham Pavilion. Just before noon, ART U came out of a rematch with Montana State Billings on top 3-1 then mirrored that same score in a victory over Alaska Fairbanks, finishing at just after 10:30 p.m.

"I really like our team chemistry with all the players back," said head coach Ray Batalon. "We have depth and experience, which helps especially at a long tournament like this. We finished our close sets by siding out really well. Our primary passers gave us the ability to take some quality swings late and we gave ourselves some good opportunities off the dig."

MATCH #1
Consistent offense from a variety of Urban Knights pushed them ahead 18-9 in the first set against MSU Billings. However, Ashlynn Ward and the Yellowjackets charged back with a 10-3 run that eventually turned into a 23-23 tie score. Following an ART U timeout, senior Rachael Smith set both junior Melissa Brum and sophomore Bailey Soolsma for the final two points in a 25-23 set victory.

The second set was a battle as MSUB managed to get ahead 20-15 only to see a 7-2 response by the Knights force a 22-22 score. Though the Yellowjackets threatened with a set point at 24-22, Brum came back with a kill then teamed up with sophomore Amorelle Applin on a block to retie things at 24-24. In the end, however, consecutive kills by Montana State Billings gave them a 26-24 win and an even match at 1-1.

ART U gained a 13-9 advantage in the third set, but it was soon tied on multiple occasions down the stretch before four unanswered points by the Knights vaulted them ahead from 21-21 to win the set 25-21. The fourth set saw Academy of Art rattle off six straight points capped by a service ace from freshman Alana Lucas early on. A five-point rally midway through which featured kills by Soolsma, freshman Safua Elisaia, and PacWest Freshman of the Week Stine Raben provided the cushion necessary to hold on for a 25-20 victory and the match. 

MATCH #2
Alaska threatened early on in the nightcap, taking a 10-3 lead out of the gate. ART U was unable to string together any type of run together in response and wound up taking a 25-16 loss to start. The Knights came out with razor-sharp focus in the second set and quickly went ahead 7-1 on multiple kills by Raben. Though the Nanooks came back to tie at 9-9, the Knights scored six of the next seven and outlasted a push with Brum's kill sealing the 25-23 victory.

Similarly to set two, Academy of Art rallied from 9-9 to gain a 15-10 advantage. That cushion would not be challenged as Smith set Brum, Elisaia, and Raben down the stretch to finish off a 25-20 set win and go up 2-1 in the match. ART U was strong early in set four and forced a 12-6 margin before going on a 7-2 run that featured five kills from Raben. Offense from senior Isabel Emrich helped close it out and the 25-14 triumph meant the Knights had earned their second victory of the day.

For the now 4-2 Urban Knights, Stine Raben led the way offensively in both matches, hitting .341 with 17 kills against MSUB then adding 16 putaways versus Alaska. Brum delivered double-doubles in both contests, going for 14 kills and 11 digs in the first then 10 kills and 10 digs in the second. Smith had 40+ assists in each match while junior Kabrina Speakman was the squad's digs leader at totals of 16 and 17 respectively.

The 1-4 Yellowjackets were once again led by Ward and her match-high 18 kills while Alaska fell to 0-5 on the year despite 11 kills apiece from Sam Harthun and Riley Podowicz.

"I think we're gaining confidence each time we take the floor," said Batalon. "We've got another good team tomorrow to play and I like that we're starting to diversify our offense a lot more. In our earlier match with Billings, we had three players that Rachel set for double-digit kills. I like our chances if we can get distribute the ball well."

The Urban Knights play a single match against host Seattle Pacific in tomorrow's continuation of the PacWest-GNAC Crossover. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m.