HONOLULU – Meeting for the second time this season on Sunday evening, Academy of Art volleyball determinedly fended off Hawaii Pacific for a match-evening second set victory, but the home team would prevail inside their own Shark Tank 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-10, 25-16) when the final point was recorded.

Consecutive pairs of kills came from freshman outside hitter Ashley Mecham, freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut, and junior outside hitter Isaura Santos in the early stages of the opening set, but HPU found itself ahead 16-9. An 8-3 run then started on a kill from senior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery, but as points were traded thereafter, ART U was soon facing set point at 24-21. Von Kraut connected once again and an attack error by the Sharks extended the frame, but one last kill earned Hawaii Pacific a 25-23 win.

Stellar serving by senior defensive specialist Catharina Brant Bambirra helped Academy of Art gain a 4-0 lead to start the second set and that margin would hold as several different Knights emerged on the attack. Midway through, the Sharks used a 7-1 run to move in front 15-14, but as the teams tied at every point thereafter, it was ART U up 22-21 on a kill by redshirt junior outside hitter Celena Davison. She would send down two more following another lead change and finally Von Kraut finished off the set for her team 25-23 to even the match.

Early on in the third frame, HPU claimed a 9-3 advantage and only added to it the rest of the way, securing a 2-1 lead by way of a 25-10 final. The Sharks then began the fourth up 9-3 once again only to see that gap shortened to two following kills by Santos and Davison along with a block combining Emery and junior setter Picabo Reinhold. The home team's response was a 6-1 surge then a 5-1 push soon after and, despite more successful kills by Davison, a 25-16 result secured the 3-1 victory for HPU.

Academy of Art moves to 8-16 on the season and 5-11 in PacWest competition. Santos posted her sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 12 kills plus 14 digs, Von Kraut contributed 11 kills, and Emery finished with eight. Reinhold was credited with 44 assists while two other Knights delivered double-digit digs in freshman libero Elena Torres (20) and Mecham (15).

Having evened the season series with ART U, Hawaii Pacific now sits at 5-19 overall and 4-12 in conference matches. Set a match-high 48 times, Ella Dotson amassed 18 kills while Lauren Christie added 14 kills.

With its Hawaii roadtrip now complete, Academy of Art will now return to Walter Gleason Gym to host PacWest rematches with Concordia (Nov. 12) and Biola (Nov. 13) with the latter including a pre-match Senior Day ceremony.