Match #16
ART U Urban Knights (4-11, 2-6 PWC) vs. Dominican Penguins (1-10, 1-5 PWC)
Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 7 p.m.
San Rafael, Calif. – Conlan Recreation Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #17
ART U Urban Knights (4-11, 2-6 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (2-15, 1-7 PWC)
Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 3 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. – Special Events Center
Live Stats & Live Video

ACADEMY OF ART TO BATTLE PENGUINS, SUNBIRDS
On the road for the first time since Sept. 14, the Urban Knights go up against Dominican and Fresno Pacific this week as Pacific West Conference play approaches its middle third.

FIRST SERVE
Staying in the Northern California pod of the PacWest Conference this week, ART U is set to take Dominican this Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. inside the Penguins' Conlan Recreation Center in San Rafael. Then, on Saturday, Oct. 12, Academy of Art will be in Fresno for a 3 p.m. first serve against Fresno Pacific inside the Special Events Center. 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
In the middle of the pack in several statistical categories, the Urban Knights are currently fourth in the PacWest service aces, averaging 1.7 per set. Junior outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferriera (0.46) has taken over as the conference's service ace per set leader while junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak (0.40) comes in tied for sixth. Pawlak, who serves as the team's kills per set leader (2.75), remains on the verge of another ascent in multiple Academy of Art career categories including kills (one away from eighth), service aces (two away from seventh), and digs (one away from fifth). On the topic of career stats, sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold needs only 19 more assists to take over third in ART U history as she remains the team's leader in double-doubles (10) and ranks third in the PacWest in assists per set (8.95). Up to second in the conference in hitting percentage, sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton comes in hitting .374.

SLIPPERY SLEDDING FOR THE PENGUINS
After losing six straight matches to start the year, Dominican recorded its first and only win over Fresno Pacific 3-1 on Sept. 21. Since that time, the Penguins have won just one set in four matches which featured the same three PacWest schools ART U faced most recently. Thus far, Dominican has relied heavily on Tiff Wong whose 3.05 kills per set rank sixth in the PacWest as well as Hana Wyles whose 5.21 digs per set are third in the conference. A relatively even all-time series has the Penguins up 13-11 versus Academy of Art.

DO YOU KNOW FRESNO?
Eight consecutive losses opened Fresno Pacific's 2019 campaign before sweeps of Westcliff and Notre Dame de Namur marked the Sunbirds' first and only two wins to date. Seven losses thereafter have put FPU at 2-15 overall currently with the ART U match the last before a Hawaii roadtrip. Ranked 10th in the PacWest with 2.87 kills per set, Makena Ogas paces Fresno Pacific while Christina Tran's 6.13 assists per set are eighth and Sierra LeBeau's 4.45 digs per set are eighth. The Sunbirds are 14-0 in the historical matchup with the Urban Knights.

LOOKING AHEAD
Returning to Southern California for mid-October action, ART U will have its first two rematches of the season with contests at Biola (Oct. 18) and Concordia (Oct. 19) set to end next week.