Knights Drop 3-2 Heartbreaker To Penguins

SAN FRANCISCO – In a rematch of the team's Sept. 17 matchup, Academy of Art and Dominican took the volleyball court once more Tuesday, but this time inside Kezar Pavilion. The contest went deep into the night as five sets were needed to determine a victor and, when all was said and done, the Penguins just barely came out on top 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 31-33, 25-16, 15-13). Senior outside hitter Melissa Brum led all players with a season-high 23 kills and freshman setter Lilika Teu posted a career-high of 56 assists, but Dominican shifted the momentum in the fourth set and benefited from a crucial two-point swing in the final frame.

Starting the opening set 5-0 with kills from three different Urban Knights, ART U showed it was sharp right away. An eight-point advantage was held much of the way as redshirt sophomore middle blocker Safua Elisaia helped keep the offense rolling. A kill by redshirt freshman outside hitter Ema Causevic earned Academy of Art the first set 25-17, but the Penguins came right back to gain a 9-4 lead in the second set. A 5-1 ART U push came late in the frame, however, a pair of Knights attack errors put Dominican over the top 25-20.

A historic third set began with a 9-4 lead for Academy of Art highlighted by Brum's four kills as well
as a service ace from Teu. That margin was expanded to double digits at 19-9, but a 12-2 surge by the Penguins returned the teams to a tie at 21-21. A Causevic kill gave ART U its first set point (24-23) and yet after it was denied, Dominican found itself with an opportunity for the set lead at 25-24. Five set points ensued for Academy of Art, the final of which earned them the 33-31 victory. The 64-point third set was the longest in the history of both programs' respective histories (Dominican in the Division II era).

Three separate runs of 4-0, 5-0, and 6-0 gained the Penguins an 18-8 advantage in set four and though the Knights closed the gap to six at 22-16, Dominican finished the frame 25-16 to force one final frame. Continuing the back-and-forth battle, the fifth set saw 11 ties and two lead changes before it was decided. The teams were never separated by more than two points and, after two consecutive kills by junior outside hitter Bailey Soolsma tied things up 13-13, a pair of ART U miscues sent the Penguins into a victory huddle at 15-13.

Academy of Art is now 4-10 overall and 2-3 in PacWest play this season. Brum finished with a match-high 23 kills to go with nine digs while Elisaia tied her career-high with 14 kills and added five block assists. Causevic offered her third double-double of the year with 12 kills and 18 digs. Teu also amassed a double-double (her seventh) in the form of new career-highs of 56 assists and 20 digs. Senior libero Kabrina Speakman delivered the team-high in digs with 25 by the match's end.

Winners of three in a row, Dominican rises to 10-6 overall and 6-2 in conference. The Penguins spread around the offense with double-digit kills from Madeline Powelson (14), Aimee Steinwand (13), and Brittany Latigue (11).

The end of this week brings ART U's annual trip to Hawaii. Friday, Oct. 7 will start the trip at Chaminade then a rematch comes at BYU-Hawaii on Oct. 8, and following a day off, the Knights wrap up at Hawaii Pacific (Oct. 10).