ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – In action both early and late on Friday in the Seawolves/Penguins Classic, Academy of Art volleyball competed tough, but fell to Cal State East Bay 3-0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-22) then could not overcome late pushes by tournament co-host Sonoma State in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21) final inside The Wolves' Den.

MATCH 1 – CSUEB 3, ART U 0
Starting the match with a 7-1 push, the Pioneers firmly controlled the opening set. Though a combined block by senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton and graduate student outside hitter Amalie Rupertova shortened the gap to six at 13-7, Cal State East Bay continued to charge ahead toward the eventual 25-10 score.

Graduate student Maya McClellan powered the Urban Knights to bounce back early in the second frame, nailing a kill before delivering back-to-back service aces. The Urban Knights' lead ended at 8-8 and the teams would tie three more times before locking at 14-14. A 6-1 surge from CSUEB then created separation and boosted the designated home team to a successful 25-18 final.

When the Pioneers jumped in front 6-1 to begin the third, ART U responded with a 5-2 burst of its own as Rupertova connected on two consecutive kills midway through the run. After a service ace by freshman setter Ainsley Robare capped four unanswered points to bring her team within one point at 11-10, the squads traded short pushes to set up another 14-14 tie. Six of the next eight went to Cal State East Bay yet Rupertova made it a one-point affair once more at 20-19 with her kill and back-to-back service aces. A final move by CSUEB, however, resulted in the set 25-22 and the match.

The Urban Knights were led by McClellan's eight kills plus five digs and two service aces while Rupertova contributed seven kills, two service aces of her own, and five digs. Junior setter Elly McInerney finished with 10 assists and senior libero Isaura Santos' 10 digs paced the squad.

Cal State East Bay, 5-1 overall after the victory, saw Lexi Pagani put up a double-double in the form of 10 kills and 12 digs.

MATCH 2 – SSU 3, ART U 0
After points were exchanged early, a 5-0 run by Sonoma State gave them an early boost, but freshman middle blocker/right side Kaia Fittz sent down a kill to initiate Academy of Art's 5-1 response. Sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut came through with a set-tying kill at 13-13, however, the Seawolves took control from 17-17, scoring eight of the final 10 points to claim the frame 25-19.

That momentum carried in the second as SSU led 6-2 yet the scoreboard read 12-12 soon after when Von Kraut, sophomore middle blocker Janaya Delone, and Rupertova connected on three consecutive kills. Fittz capped another 3-0 push to make it 18-18 only to be met by Sonoma State's strong close once again, ending with the 25-19 victory.

Von Kraut had her squad's first two kills plus a block solo in the Knights' opening 4-3 lead to set three though SSU managed to get ahead 13-8 thereafter. Rupertova's kill and two straight service aces immediately thereafter helped close the gap to 13-12, but a 6-1 rebuttal then had the Seawolves on their way to earning the win 25-21 despite Academy of Art fighting off three match points.

Heading into the final day of this weekend's action, the Urban Knights move to 0-7 overall despite Rupertova tying for the match-high with 12 kills in addition to her four digs and three service aces. Von Kraut added nine kills while the tandem of McInerney and Robare had 11 assists apiece.

Opening its 2022 campaign at 6-1 overall, Sonoma State had two reach double-digit kills in Jaden Krist (12) and Jen Trephan (10).

Academy of Art completes the Seawolves/Penguins Classic with a 1 p.m. first serve versus Chico State inside Dominican's Conlan Center tomorrow in San Rafael.