SAN FRANCISCO – Day two of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase was a challenging one for Academy of Art University volleyball. Back inside SF State's Main Gym, the Urban Knights rallied for a set in a 3-1 loss (25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 26-24) to Alaska midday before falling in straight sets 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-14) to Cal State Monterey Bay.
MATCH 1 – ALASKA 3, ART U 1
Although junior outside hitter
Bailey Soolsma slammed three consecutive kills during the early part of the opening set, a 7-1 Nanooks run ensued which gave them a cushion late. The Knights would come within three points on multiple occasions, but Alaska prevailed 25-19. In the second, a 6-0 UAF push was later paired with an 8-2 surge to close out the 25-17 set.
Academy of Art went right to work in the third set, establishing an 8-3 advantage with two consecutive service aces from freshman outside hitter
Kimiah Johnson early on. Johnson and Soolsma would work in tandem as the set progressed and soon a 25-21 triumph came on redshirt junior libero
Lyndsay Mlynar's ace.
An 8-4 lead came for ART U to start the fourth set as Soolsma put away five of those points, but Alaska stayed close, made a move down 20-18, and later when things were tied 24-24 after Soolsma spiked two more, the Nanooks secured the set 26-24 for the match victory.
Soolsma went for career-highs of both 20 kills and 19 digs while Johnson added her own personal bests of 11 kills and 13 digs. Mlynar had a season-best 21 digs as well.
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MATCH 2 – CSUMB 3, ART U 0
Early in the first set, Cal State Monterey Bay used a 9-1 run to create enough of a margin for their eventual 25-12 victory. Soolsma and Johnson continued their strong play, accounting for seven of the Knights' nine kills in the set. Both then delivered kills in a 4-2 start to the second set, however, a 9-3 rally by the Otters ended the frame with CSUMB on top 25-18.
A 7-1 push midway through by Cal State Monterey Bay was the difference in the third and final set before four unanswered points ended the 25-14 result earning the Otters a sweep.
For the second consecutive match, ART U was led by Soolsma and Johnson who combined for 20 kills and 14 digs in the contest.
Exiting the second day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase now 1-4 overall, Academy of Art will complete the tournament tomorrow with a 7:30 p.m. match versus host SF State.
