SAN DIEGO – Despite getting a variety of offensive production, Academy of Art volleyball took a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-14) loss to Point Loma inside Golden Gymnasium on Friday night.
ART U held a lead for the early part of set one thanks to multiple kills by freshman middle blocker
Jillian Wheaton and others. Thought the Urban Knights lost the advantage briefly, it was quickly regained on a three-point swing started by freshman setter
Picabo Reinhold's kill. The 12-11 score shifted once more after 11 of the next 13 points were scored by PLNU en route to the home team's initial 25-17 victory.
Unfazed by a 6-1 start to the second set for the Sea Lions, Academy of Art used back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter
Ashley Pawlak to mount a comeback. Midway through the frame, the Knights played some of their best volleyball of the match to close an 18-11 gap down to 19-17 thanks to three service aces (two by Pawlak) and a pair of kills. A brief 5-2 push had set point for Point Loma and, though ART U fought of the next two, the Sea Lions prevailed 25-21.
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Following a 13-3 lead for PLNU to begin the third set, Academy of Art traded points with the Sea Lions down the stretch, but could not put together enough for a comeback. Point Loma would win the final frame 25-14 for the sweep.
Falling to 0-9 on the year, ART U was led by seven kills from Elisaia and six off the hand of Pawlak. Pawlak's productive day also featured eight digs plus three service aces while Reinhold added 22 assists.
Point Loma improves to .500 (4-4) with the victory, receiving quite a bit of production from the tandem of Jaime Cymbaluk (11 kills) and Cara Keturakis (29 assists).
Tomorrow, Academy of Art completes its first of two Southern California roadtrips with a 3 p.m. contest at Azusa Pacific.
