SAN FRANCISCO – The seventh installment of Academy of Art volleyball's eight-part Pacific West Conference homestand saw the Urban Knights steadily improve their set scores, but ultimately to UH Hilo 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-20) on Thursday night inside Kezar Pavilion.

From a 3-3 tie in the first set, the Vulcans made their initial move, jumping ahead with a 7-1 run. After building a double-digit advantage and forcing set point, ART U staved off its opponent with three straight points including two kills from sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton. However, UH Hilo looked to Bria Beale for the final kill and a 25-14 victory. 

Up 8-6 after a kill by junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak, Academy of Art saw the momentum swing the Vulcans' way with an 8-2 push. Though the Knights would come within three points thereafter, two more runs by the visitors earned them a 2-0 advantage following the 25-16 result.

A similar sequence followed in the third set as ART U's 8-6 lead shifted on a 7-1 surge from UH Hilo. Academy of Art stayed close for much of the remainder of the frame, cutting it to 18-16 on Wheaton's final kill. An untimely 6-0 run by the Vulcans earned them a chance at finishing the match, but four straight points from the Knights forced a timeout. In the end, however, the 25-20 win ensued for UH Hilo.

ART U remains in the middle of the PacWest standings with a 2-5 conference record to go with a 4-10 overall record. Wheaton finished with a team-best nine kills, sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold added 25 assists, and junior libero Michaela Charrette paced the squad in digs for the second straight match with 11.

With the victory, its fourth straight, UH Hilo improves to 9-5 on the year and 4-2 in conference play. Leading the Vulcans was Beale who offered 12 kills for the match-high just ahead of Emily Wade's 11 put-aways.

The Urban Knights will conclude their current eight-match homestand this Saturday, Oct. 5 with a 3 p.m. contest hosting Chaminade.