FRESNO, Calif. – Meeting Fresno Pacific exactly one month following their five-set Pacific West Conference battle in September, Academy of Art volleyball delivered eight service aces for the third consecutive match, but could not overcome consistent offense toward a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-18) win for the Sunbirds inside the Special Events Center on Friday.
Early scores pushed the home team to a 15-9 lead, but a service aces plus kills from graduate student outside hitter
Amalie Rupertova and graduate student outside hitter/right side
Maya McClellan and three of six in the opening set from freshman middle blocker/outside hitter
Alohi Garcia brought ART U all the way back to 15-15. Advantages were exchanged as junior setter
Lina Ellilä's service ace put her team ahead 21-20 and freshman outside hitter/right side
Crystal Creek's solo block forced a 22-21 lead, but the frame ended 25-23 on three consecutive points for Fresno Pacific.
Though FPU began the second set on a 10-0 run, a significant career milestone was achieved by McClellan midway through as she simultaneously sent down her 1,000th collegiate kill and 300th of the season. From down 21-7, Academy of Art rallied starting with another McClellan put-away then capped the 7-1 push on back-to-back service aces by junior setter
Elly McInerney. Trading points the rest of the way, however, Fresno Pacific would take the frame 25-16.
Capturing its first lead of the third set following a 6-1 surge highlighted by multiple McClellan service aces and kills by junior right side
Sofia Stemberga and Rupertova, the Knights suddenly found themselves down 13-7. That same recipe for success (kills by Stemberga and Rupertova plus a McClellan service ace) began another 6-1 comeback to close the gap to five points at 23-18, but a pair of kills would end the contest in the Sunbirds' favor 25-18.
Academy of Art, now 3-19 overall and 2-13 in conference play, was led by Garcia's nine kills, McClellan's seven kills, 11 digs, and three service aces, and Rupertova's six kills. McInerney and Ellilä combined for 21 assists and five service aces while freshman libero
LC-Reece Nakagawa added 11 digs.
Fresno Pacific rises to 9-13 on the season and 5-8 in PacWest matchups after Makena Ogas and Mia Gilcrest each posted nine kills, Cambria Waites provided 19 assists, Madison Girnius amassed seven blocks, and Corinne Acosta collected 10 digs.
The Urban Knights will next get their first look at Dominican on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in San Rafael.
