IRVINE, Calif. – Wrapping up its penultimate trip out of the Bay Area inside CU Arena on Friday evening, Academy of Art volleyball saw the second set within reach, but Concordia triumphed 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-15).
Kills by junior outside hitter
Isaura Santos and freshman outside hitter
Ashley Mecham helped ART U come back to an 8-8 tie after CUI led early then an 8-1 push by the home team got them a 21-12 advantage. Santos' fourth kill of the frame came down the stretch though the margin held up and the Eagles won 25-15.
After redshirt senior opposite
Kiersten Kerch and junior middle blocker
Jillian Wheaton teamed up for a block to make the second set 9-9, Concordia made a move with 4-0 run, but it was answered by the Urban Knights' 5-1 response. The rebuttal began with Kerch's solo block and later saw her send down a kill as a 14-14 deadlock ensued. Five unanswered Eagles points were then met by four straight from Academy of Art and though Kerch helped her team stay on the offensive, CUI took the set 25-22 and went ahead 2-0 in the match.
Despite facing an 8-4 deficit to begin the third, the Knights got into a rhythm with back-to-back Santos kills. In the end, however, a 9-9 tie was broken by a 14-2 surge by Concordia that ultimately helped them secure the 25-15 final.
ART U, now 5-14 overall and 2-9 in PacWest play, was led by Mecham's 10 kills and 15 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. Santos contributed eight kills while junior setter
Picabo Reinhold finished with 24 assists and nine digs. Freshman libero
Elena Torres' 15 digs tied with Mecham's total for the team-high and senior libero
Catharina Brant Bambirra added nine digs as well.
Improving to 12-5 overall and 7-3 in conference action, Concordia was paced by 12 kills from Kirra Schulz, 29 assists off the hands of Brianna Latigue, and 15 digs via Julia Wilson.
After Academy of Art returns to the mainland this weekend, the Urban Knights will begin preparing for matches hosting Dominican (Oct. 29) and Holy Names (Oct. 30) at Walter Gleason Gym on back-to-back days.
