IRVINE, Calif. – Closing out its Southern California roadtrip on Saturday evening inside CU Arena, Academy of Art volleyball showed progress with each set, giving Concordia quite a battle in the third, but the Eagles managed to emerge with the 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) Pacific West Conference victory in the end.

Though CUI claimed eight of the match's first 10 points, ART U responded with a 7-2 surge led by kills and blocks from graduate student outside hitters Maya McClellan and Amalie Rupertova as well as sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut. Academy of Art remained within a single point as the sides traded scores until a 5-1 push separated Concordia and eventually propelled them to a 25-17 win after four straight points to end the set.

Even initially, the second frame's momentum shifted to the home team after an 8-2 run had them up 10-5, but the gap was again closed to 12-10 after Rupertova kills sandwiched a Von Kraut block solo during a 5-2 push back. CUI would work its way up to a 21-15 advantage then traded points the rest of the way to secure the 25-19 result.

Out of the gate ahead 10-5 once more in the third set, the Eagles again saw their margin cut to 12-10 after Rupertova's kill sparked a 5-1 burst for the Urban Knights. Another 5-1 run a short time later was highlighted by a McClellan kill and suddenly ART U held a 17-16 lead. Though Rupertova sent down two more kills thereafter, but CUI finished off the 25-20 victory with nine of the final 12 points, completing the match.

Academy of Art moves to 4-17 overall and 3-9 in conference play with the result despite strong offensive performances from Rupertova (13 kills hitting .333) and Von Kraut (nine kills hitting .300 with one block solo and two block assists). Rupertova's eight digs had her as one of four Knights with seven or more digs led by junior setter Elly McInerney who added 24 assists. McClellan finished with five kills, six digs, and two block solos while the tandem of freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz and sophomore libero Nina Garcia added seven digs apiece.

Rising to 11-7 on the year and 8-3 in PacWest play, Concordia was paced by Ally Scheidle's 11 kills and three Eagles with 10 or more digs.

The Urban Knights will be back in the Bay Area this week for road rematches with local conference opponents Holy Names (Oct. 22) and Dominican (Oct. 24) up next.