BELMONT, Calif. – With five Urban Knights over .300, Academy of Art volleyball posted its highest hitting percentage (.324) since October 31, 2015 en route to an exciting 3-1 (26-24, 25-14, 21-25, 25-14) victory over Hawaii Pacific. Saturday's Pacific West Conference action inside Walter Gleason Gym was highlighted by junior outside hitter Isaura Santos' match-high 16 kills on a .452 clip while freshman middle blocker Janaya Delone slammed down six kills without an error for a .545 attack percentage.

"It's nice to end the week on a winning note," said Head Coach Allen McCreary. "It was a long week for us with our matches and practices, but being able to come out and finish this week with a win is great."

From a 5-5 tie in the opening set, the Sharks scored seven unanswered points, but that margin quickly shrunk as freshman outside hitter Ashley Mecham recorded three kills during a 5-1 response. Soon Santos posted a trio of kills of her own during a 6-1 ART U surge which led the teams to an 18-18 tie. Despite a brief HPU lead, Academy of Art pushed a 22-19 margin right back with senior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery and junior setter Picabo Reinhold combining on a block amid four straight points. The thrill ride continued as the Sharks forced set point at 24-23, but Mecham's kills, Reinhold's service ace, and ultimately a block from Delone and freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut ended the set 26-24 with ART U on top.

The Knights took command of the second set right away, establishing an 8-4 lead before Mecham's kills started a 4-0 run shortly thereafter. As the frame progressed, Emery caught fire with back-to-back kills in the middle of six unanswered points to extend the margin. Santos, Reinhold, and Mecham all connected for points down the stretch as Academy of Art had no trouble moving in front 2-0 by way of its 25-14 victory.

Neither side gained much of a lead to start the third set, but Hawaii Pacific's runs of 5-1 and later 4-0 kept the pressure on, giving the visitors a four-point lead that they would maintain through to a 25-21 win.

Looking to close out the match once again, ART U had senior opposite Kiersten Kerch and Santos each deliver two kills apiece during a quick 4-0 start to the fourth frame. The Knights never relinquished that advantage as five straight points soon followed before redshirt junior outside hitter Celena Davison's kills bookended a 6-1 push that had Academy of Art ahead 17-9. Playing with a victory now in sight, ART U scored six of the final seven points, ending at 25-14 on an Emery kill.

ART U's second home victory lifts the Urban Knights to 5-9 overall and 2-4 in PacWest action. Santos' aforementioned 16 kills led all competitors and her .452 hitting percentage was a season-high. Mecham followed with 13 kills and 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the year then Davison's eight kills (.304)  and seven apiece from Emery (four blocks) and Kerch (.308) were next. Delone broke out with a season-best six kills on a match-high .545 hitting percentage and added three blocks. Reinhold collected the most assists on the day (49) while freshman libero Elena Torres and senior defensive specialist Catharina Brant Bambirra combined for 31 digs.

"One thing we're working on is lowering our unforced errors," McCreary said. "We've been working on it in practice. When they can't make a great swing at the ball, all of our hitters focus on just keeping the ball in play."

Closing its second trip to the mainland with four losses, Hawaii Pacific moves to 2-12 overall and 1-5 in conference play this season. The Sharks were led by Nicole Ferris' 12 kills while four of her teammates finished with nine kills apiece.

"This was a team win for us," McCreary said. "And that's what we've been talked about - winning as a team is better than winning as individuals. We do what we do for the team's success. We'll get a little rest now and it'll be nice to see Azusa Pacific and Point Loma on our home court next week."

Rematches with the Cougars and Sea Lions are on tap for back-to-back days, Oct. 7-8, both with 6:30 p.m. start times back inside Walter Gleason Gym.