SAN FRANCISCO – Entering into their first competition since the program's first 40-win season, Academy of Art University Softball begins its encore campaign this week. Under new head coach Alex Gomez, the Urban Knights are set to ride the momentum of ART U's first postseason appearance last year, combining the experience of 11 returners with versatile newcomers in 2019.

Historical in so many ways, Academy of Art University softball's 2018 season was truly special. Driven to significantly surpass the program wins record by a unifying theme known as "On The 30," ART U's highlights included two double-digit win streaks, victories over three ranked opponents, the Urban Knights' first NCAA Tournament appearance, six All-Pacific West Conference Team honorees, their first All-American, and the Urban Knights' fifth time posting at least 25 victories. For more on ART U's accomplishments last year, click here!

ART U's 52-game regular season schedule begins in Las Vegas with the Montana State Billings Desert Stinger Tournament at the start of February (Live Stats & select Live Video, homepage), starts a 14-part homestand at Brisbane on Feb. 27, hits Turlock twice to face Stanislaus State and partake in the Tournament of Champions, shifts to Hawaii for 12 games, and remains local through the May 4 finale. For more on the Knights' 2019 schedule, click here!

Similarly to the previous year, Academy of Art carries two four-year seniors, infielder Brenna Youngquist and utility Katie Tablada, on its roster in 2019. All-PacWest Team in 2017, Youngquist led the Pacific West Conference in walks and ART U in home runs last year and remains on pace to break both of the program's career records in those categories. Working way back from injury last season, Tablada provided crucial defense and base-running as the Urban Knights made their postseason run.

A total of five juniors compose one of the two largest classes on the roster and four of those bring experience from NCAA Regionals last season. One of Academy of Art's two returning 2018 All-PacWest Third Team honorees, outfielder Gabi Hirsch was selected as 2019 Preseason All-PacWest Team following a year in which she ranked top four in the conference in both steals and hits. The other All-PacWest Team recipient was infielder Gracie Sotomayor who finished 2018 among the conference's top 20 in doubles, triples, runs batted in, and steals. That pair is joined by pitcher Hannah Rose Balke, utility Dominique Seva'aetasi, and infielder Celena New, a transfer from Riverside City College.

Also with five members in its class, ART U's quintet of sophomores is made up of exclusively pitchers and catchers. Versatility in the circle comes from one right-hander, Sarah Wapner, who redshirted last season, and one lefty, Cecilia Lopez, who was one of 12 PacWest pitchers with a sub-2.50 earned run average and owner of the fewest walks (16) amongst all PacWest pitchers with at least 47.0 innings pitched. Returning to handle many of the responsibilities behind the plate will be catcher trio Lauryn Henderson, Alyssa Brundage, and Austyn Matlick.

New faces on the Urban Knights roster this season, four freshmen bring an array of talents and position flexibility to the team. Over the course of their varsity high school careers, outfielder Bethany Mitchell (Lake Stevens High), pitcher/utility Haley Arnold-Jolley (Lincoln High), catcher/utility Cassandra Mittman (Valley View High), and utility Nikki West (Valencia High) combined for over 17 wins per year, seeing the postseason more than half of their 14 collective years.

Preparing through the fall and spring, ART U Softball will continue to "Leave A Legacy" this Friday in Vegas.