AZUSA, Calif. – Going from the No. 5 team to the No. 24 team in the country, ART U Volleyball faced another difficult matchup and ended up dropping a 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-18) decision to Azusa Pacific inside the Felix Event Center on Thursday night.

After opening the match on a 6-1 run, the Cougars traded points with the Urban Knights much of the rest of the way before a 6-0 push ended the set in favor of the home team 25-14.

Academy of Art started the second set up 4-2, but was met with 12 unanswered points by Azusa Pacific in a momentum shift. ART U came alive with a 5-1 run late though the comeback was too late and APU prevailed 25-13.

Senior middle blocker Margaret Winkler's service ace helped the Knights come to within two points at 9-7 after another early run by the Cougars. Azusa Pacific then made a 9-2 push to go up 18-9, but Winkler highlighted a 6-1 Academy of Art response with a pair of solo blocks to bring her within three blocks of the career record. APU went on to finish the 25-18 set with a 5-2 run to earn the victory.

ART U moves to 3-11 overall and 0-7 in conference play with the evening's results. Freshman outside hitter Kimiah Johnson put up a team-high 11 kills while junior outside hitter Bailey Soolsma finished with six kills and 16 digs (12 in the first set alone). Junior setter Alana Lucas amassed a team-high 24 assists.

No. 24 Azusa Pacific rises to 14-1 and a perfect 7-0 in PacWest. Julianne Miller posted a team-best 11 kills plus four blocks.

Academy of Art completes its Southern California roadtrip this weekend with a 3 p.m. first serve against Point Loma in San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 7.