RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Urban Knights started strong Thursday night inside Van Dyne Gym as Academy of Art University volleyball captured the opening set versus one of the toughest teams in the Pacific West Conference in California Baptist. However, the Lancers settled into a rhythm and early offense eventually led them to the 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-17) victory.

An evenly-played first set saw 14 ties and a balanced ART U offense before the teams were knotted at 22-22 following redshirt sophomore middle blocker Safua Elisaia and senior outside hitter Melissa Brum's combined block and a CBU attack error. Sophomore setter Alana Lucas extended the run to 4-0 with a service ace then an assist on Elisaia's kill to force set point. Two plays later, Academy of Art stood victorious over the fifth-ranked team in the West Region 25-23.

"I thought we came out tonight focused and played great steady volleyball," said head coach Ray Batalon. "We were very good out of system which we've been working hard in our practices and it showed tonight in that first set."

California Baptist wasted little time answering back as the Lancers opened the second set with an 8-1 run. The Knights came as close as 19-13 after Brum's kill, but a 6-3 finish to the frame put CBU on top 25-16, evening the match 1-1. The third set was reminiscent of the second with California Baptist starting with a 9-0 push and moving into a 25-12 victory.

Set four remained close early and, after the teams exchanged 3-0 rallies midway through, the Lancers found themselves up 14-11. That margin was soon expanded via a 5-0 surge which ultimately created enough separation for the 25-17 win and the 3-1 match.

The result put ART U at 6-17 overall and 4-10 in conference play. Brum led the way with 11 kills and seven digs, moving her within nine digs of a new program career record. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Ema Causevic had her fourth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 11 digs while Elisaia finished with nine kills. Lucas tied her season-high with 31 assists and redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Lyndsay Mlynar offered a team-high 13 digs.

For CBU, the overall record becomes 17-5 and 12-2 in PacWest. Three Lancers delivered double-digit kills led by Lauren Hackett's 15 on the night.

Academy of Art concludes its Southern California roadtrip this Saturday at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium in San Diego. First serve is set for 3 p.m.