OAKLAND, Calif. – In a battle of two teams in search of their first Pacific West Conference victory, Wednesday night's faceoff between Academy of Art and Holy Names went the way of the Hawks 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 27-25) inside Tobin Gym.

The opening set remained even through its first 15 points, but 7-3 HNU run put the home team ahead 16-10. Not long after, ART U would rattle off four straight points starting with a pair of kills from redshirt senior middle blocker Safua Elisaia followed by two service aces from sophomore libero Michaela Charrette. The Urban Knights turned that into a 9-2 momentum shift which closed the gap to two points at 23-21, however, Holy Names would get the final two points it needed for a 25-22 win.

Academy of Art jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the second set as freshman setter Picabo Reinhold delivered two service aces before the Hawks evened the score with their own 4-0 response. Junior opposite Kiersten Kerch once again put ART U ahead with two consecutive kills and yet the score was tied 11-11 moments later. A one-point difference turned into six in the later stages as HNU went on a run capped by its own strong service game. A valiant effort saw the Knights fight off four straight set points before the home team's 25-21 victory ensued.

Set three ended up being the closest of the night with the teams initially trading 4-0 runs and Academy of Art working its way back from a 14-9 deficit to tie the set at 17-17 on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Ashley Pawlak. A total of eight ties followed that moment with ART U denying Holy Names on two more set points prior to the 27-25 end result for the sweep.

Pawlak finished with season-highs of 11 kills and 19 digs for her first double-double of the year as Academy of Art is now 0-3 in conference play and 0-11 overall. Reinhold also offered a season-high with her 29 assists which provided opportunities for freshman middle blocker Jillian Wheaton to amass a season-high nine kills as well as eight for Elisaia to match her season-high. Charrette contributed a season-best 12 digs.

Holy Names picks up its first PacWest victory of the year and moves to 1-2 in conference as part of a 2-7 overall record. Sierra Allen hit .542 and collected 14 kills for the Hawks.

ART U will play its first PacWest home match this Friday, Sept. 14, but it will do so at Dominican University's Conlan Recreation Center at 7 p.m. The Urban Knights host Biola in what will be a special promotional event with ART U Athletics tote bags distributed in addition to fans' chance to win an Apple Watch.