Match #27
ART U Urban Knights (1-25, 1-17 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (5-21, 4-13 PWC)
Friday, November 2, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – Special Events Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #28
ART U Urban Knights (1-25, 1-17 PWC) vs. Dominican Penguins (7-15, 5-12 PWC)
Monday, November 5, 2018 at 7 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

KNIGHTS TRAVELS TO FRESNO, RECOGNIZE SENIORS VERSUS PENGUINS
Propelled by a thrilling victory over Holy Names just last night, Academy of Art volleyball looks to carry that momentum into a road contest followed by its final home game of 2018. Over the next four days, ART U makes its way to Fresno Pacific for a rematch with the Sunbirds then returns home to play Dominican with a pre-match ceremony honoring the senior trio of libero Lyndsay Mlynar, setter Alana Lucas, and middle blocker Safua Elisaia.

FIRST SERVE
On the road for the first time since Oct. 17, the Urban Knights will take on Fresno Pacific inside the Sunbirds' Special Events Center this Friday, Nov. 2 at a new start time of 6:30 p.m. Three days later on Monday, Nov. 5, Academy of Art hosts Dominican inside Kezar Pavilion with a Senior Night ceremony prefacing the match at 7 p.m. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Amid the excitement of ART U's victory over Holy Names on Oct. 31, redshirt senior middle blocker Safua Elisaia surpassed former teammate Margaret Winkler to become the program's career blocks leader (306). Additionally, Elisaia moved into Academy of Art's top five in career kills (627), now needing 32 more to reach fourth all-time. Freshman middle blocker Jillian Wheaton led the way in the Knights' win, posting 14 kills and nine blocks (seven block assists, two block solos), and she now ranks sixth in the PacWest in hitting percentage (.352), a number that would have her tied for the highest mark in program single-season history. She has also cracked the conference's top 10 in blocks per set, checking in at eighth (0.90). Coming off her ninth double-double of the year, freshman setter Picabo Reinhold's assists per set average has risen almost to seven and she ranks fifth in the PacWest (6.99). Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Pawlak turned in her eighth double-double and her fourth straight double-digit kill total with 12 kills and 12 digs versus HNU, putting her 2.50 kills per set to lead ART U. Redshirt senior libero Lyndsay Mlynar achieved her own milestone last match, becoming the program's third individual to register 1,000 digs while senior setter Alana Lucas (75) now has sole possession of fourth in Academy of Art's career service aces list. 

IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN
After defeating Academy of Art 3-1 in San Francisco back on Sept. 22, Fresno Pacific has gone on to win just one match in its next 11 contests. The victory was a 3-1 result at Notre Dame de Namur at the end of the Sunbirds' second Bay Area roadtrip and they now host ART U in the penultimate match of a seven-part homestand. FPU is led offensively by Carley Bock's 3.16 kills per set (fifth in the PacWest) and Greta Dobenecker's 7.32 assists per set (fourth in the PacWest). Following this season's result, Fresno Pacific now holds an 11-1 all-time record versus the Urban Knights.

BATTLE OF THE BAY IN FULL EFFECT
It was just two short weeks ago that ART U and Dominican battled into a fifth set in San Rafael and though the Penguins ended up prevailing, they have since gone 1-3 with a victory over Holy Names their lone triumph. A busy start to November has the Penguins hosting Biola (Nov. 2) and Concordia (Nov. 3) before coming to Kezar Pavilion for the first time on Nov. 5. The team relies heavily upon Josie Walser whose 8.43 assists per set are second in the conference while Hana Wyles provides the fifth-most digs per set average at 4.56. Academy of Art will look to once again re-even the all-time matchup as Dominican went up 11-10 with its previous victory.

KNIGHTS TREATED TO 3-2 WIN OVER HAWKS ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT
In a match that saw plenty of scares on both sides, Academy of Art volleyball stood triumphant over Holy Names 3-2 (26-24, 17-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-10) inside Kezar Pavilion on Halloween night. Among the numerous highlights of the two-hour rollercoaster ride, Elisaia became the program's new career blocks record-holder after she tallied three rejections to go with a season-high 13 kills and a career-high 19 digs. Wheaton led the Urban Knights with 14 kills (on a .522 hitting percentage) and added nine blocks including a pair of solo blocks.

LOOKING AHEAD
With its home slate complete, Academy of Art will finish its season on the road with rematches at Concordia (Nov. 9) and Biola (Nov. 10).