BELMONT, Calif. – Academy of Art volleyball delivered some of its best defense at the net Monday night inside Walter Gleason Gym, but Holy Names managed to walk away with the  victory 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-19) in the two teams' first Pacific West Conference meeting this year.

In a sign of things to come, ART U began the match with a kill by graduate student outside hitter Amalie Rupertova then a block from graduate student outside hitter Maya McClellan and senior middle blocker Jillian Wheaton, but neither side gained more than a two-point foothold on the set as nine ties brought the sides to 10-10. A 6-2 run by the Hawks was quickly met by five unanswered points by the Urban Knights including four straight kills by Rupertova. The lead changed hands three more times as a 4-1 late push with kills from four different Academy of Art student-athletes gave the home team set point at 24-23, but momentum suddenly shifted as HNU captured four of the final five points to win 26-24.

After an early 5-1 surge highlighted by three McClellan kills took ART U from down two to up two, points were consistently traded by both squads until a service ace from sophomore setter/defensive specialist Nina Garcia made it 13-11. Holy Names proceeded to rally for seven of the next eight points, assuming a lead they would not relinquish. Though the Knights worked their way back with kills from Rupertova, Wheaton, and sophomore right side Katherine Von Kraut, ultimately the Hawks gained a two-set advantage on an attack error at 25-22.

Like the first two frames, Academy of Art was unfazed by HNU's early lead, rattling off four consecutive scores that were capped by Wheaton's second solo block of the evening to go up 8-7. Things changed dramatically from that moment on, however, as Holy Names went on a 9-1 run and threatened a double-digit advantage at times late. Up against set point, the Knights fought back with four straight points, the final on Von Kraut and Wheaton's combined block, but one final Hawks kill ended the match with a 25-19 result in the third set.

Now 3-13 overall and 2-5 in conference play, ART U was led by Rupertova's match-high 14 kills while the tandem of McClellan and Von Kraut each had eight kills apiece. McClellan added 10 digs and four block assists, the latter of which tied her season-best. Freshman setter Ainsley Robare totaled 19 assists, junior setter Elly McInerney contributed 15 assists, and senior libero Isaura Santos finished with a team-high 15 digs. Major factors in the Urban Knights' nine total blocks (which tied a season-high), Wheaton had two block solos and four block assists while sophomore middle blocker Janaya Delone amassed three block assists.

Holy Names, improving to 7-8 overall and 2-4 in PacWest action, relied upon eight kills each from Priscilla Barnett and Saupuni Mavaega.

The second part of Academy of Art's four-match homestand will take place this Thursday, Sept. 29 when Dominican comes to Walter Gleason Gym for the first time in 2022.