SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University volleyball picked up its second Pacific West Conference win of the year on Wednesday night, defeating BYU-Hawaii 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 25-19) inside Kezar Pavilion. Senior outside hitter
Melissa Brum and redshirt freshman
Ema Causevic led the way offensively as each finished with double-digit kills.
Though the Seasiders gained an early 8-4 advantage in the first set, the Urban Knights came right back with five unanswered points including Causevic's first kill to move ahead 9-8. A 15-13 BYUH lead then prompted an 8-2 ART U surge highlighted by multiple slams by Brum. That margin would hold up through the 25-22 set win for Academy of Art.
That momentum carried into the second set as another 5-0 run started off the frame. Ahead by as large a margin as 13-3, the Knights were soon hit with a 14-5 push back from BYU-Hawaii. It would result in a 22-22 tie score and, although two set points were denied by the Seasiders, a combination block by freshman setter
Lilika Teu and redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Safua Elisaia forced a third and junior middle blocker
Margaret Winkler did the honors for a 28-26 victory.
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Set three was a dogfight off the bat with both teams vying for an early margin. After a 10-6 ART U lead was erased, the teams were tied 12-12 and BYUH proceeded to move up 17-15. Academy of Art refused to allow the match to be extended, however, and rattled off another five unanswered points during its 8-1 response. Causevic again finished several points down the stretch before Teu closed the 25-19 win and the match on her third service ace.
The win, ART U's third in its past four matches, puts them at 2-2 in PacWest play and 4-9 overall this season. Brum offered her third double-double of the year with a team-high 12 kills to go with 10 digs. Causevic added 10 kills and eight digs while freshman setter Teu posted a match-high 30 assists. Winkler and Elisaia combined for nine block assists and senior libero
Kabrina Speakman held the match-high for digs with 17 by the night's end.
BYU-Hawaii remains winless through four conference matches and drops to 2-11 overall with the loss. Sinamoni Tonga contributed 13 kills while Kayle Park and Leilani Adolpho each totaled 13 digs apiece.
Monday, Oct. 3 brings the fourth and final opponent in this homestand as Dominican comes to Kezar Pavilion for a 7:30 p.m. first serve against the Knights.
