BELMONT, Calif. – Academy of Art volleyball started its 2020-21 season strong with a 10-1 rally plus six of the last seven points in its opening set versus Fresno Pacific, but the Sunbirds came back to take the final three sets for the 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-11) victory in both teams' Pacific West Conference openers. Freshman outside hitter Ashley Mecham amassed a team-high 16 kills in her collegiate debut to lead the Urban Knights on Thursday inside Walter Gleason Gym.

Though FPU started the opening set on a 12-4 run, ART U's first kill of the year, off the hands of freshman setter Nina Garcia, sparked three straight points followed by seven unanswered moments later. Garcia delivered three service aces during that stretch while senior middle blocker/opposite Sadie Emery and Mecham added kills. The one-point advantage for Academy of Art was then exchanged until Fresno Pacific made a bid to win, going up 22-19. From there, however, the Knights took control with Garcia back to her serving success and Mecham, Emery, along with freshman outside hitter Katherine Von Kraut all registering kills en route to the 25-23 end result.

A pair of kills from freshman middle blocker Hannah Richman helped ART U begin the second set up 3-1, but the Sunbirds responded with a push to go up 13-3. Five out of the next seven points went the Knights' way, capped by a service ace from senior libero Ashley Pawlak, however, the margin remained too great and FPU evened the match with a 25-13 set victory.

Three consecutive Mecham kills started the third set and sent Academy of Art to an 8-4 advantage with redshirt junior outside hitter Celena Davison dropping back-to-back kills along the way. The momentum swung back to Fresno Pacific following a 12-3 surge, but the Knights fought their way to multiple two-point deficits before six of the final seven scores went FPU's way for a 25-18 final.

Momentum remained on the Sunbirds' side as the visitors went up 10-1 to open the fourth set. A 6-2 response by ART U featured senior defensive specialist Michaela Charrette's first service ace of the season plus two more kills from Mecham, but two more rallies by Fresno Pacific secured the set 25-11 and the match.

For Academy of Art, who starts the season 0-1 both overall and in conference play, Mecham led the way with 16 kills while adding six digs. Davison followed with seven kills and Von Kraut added six kills. Garcia posted 31 assists and Pawlak collected 14 digs.

The win boosts the Sunbirds to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in PacWest action. It was Corinne Acosta who finished with a match-high 19 kills plus 10 digs while Makena Ogas contributed 12 kills in addition to five block assists.

ART U next takes on Holy Names in a rescheduled match on Tuesday, Mar. 23 at 4 p.m. in Oakland.