Match #8
ART U Urban Knights (1-6, 0-0 PacWest) vs. Biola Eagles (4-3, 0-0 PacWest)
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 6 p.m.
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #9
ART U Urban Knights (1-6, 0-0 PacWest) vs. Azusa Pacific Cougars (3-5, 0-0 PacWest)
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Azusa, Calif. – Felix Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #10
ART U Urban Knights (1-6, 0-0 PacWest) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (3-4, 0-0 PacWest)
Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 2 p.m.
San Diego – Golden Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

PACWEST SEASON ARRIVES WITH FIRST LOOKS AT BU, APU, PLNU
Academy of Art volleyball enters the Pacific West Conference portion of its 2023 campaign on the road this week with matchups against Biola, Azusa Pacific, and Point Loma.

FIRST SERVE
Starting inside Chase Gymnasium in La Mirada, ART U will face Biola on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. before going up against Azusa Pacific inside Felix Event Center less than 24 hours later on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. The road trip concludes in San Diego with a 2 p.m. first serve versus Point Loma on Saturday, Sept. 16. 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
Firmly the team leader in both points (3.90) and kills per set (3.31), graduate student outside hitter/right side Maya McClellan ranks sixth in the PacWest in both categories while adding the Urban Knights' second-highest digs per set average (2.92). McClellan has four double-doubles in seven matches thus far with graduate student outside hitter Amalie Rupertova's three double-doubles ranking second on the squad thanks to averages of 2.58 kills and 2.88 digs per set. With no fewer than 21 assists in each of her past four matches, junior setter Elly McInerney has moved up to third in the PacWest (6.38) while freshman libero LC-Reece Nakagawa comes in at ninth in the conference with 3.20 digs per set.

THE BIOLA BIO
Entering the year picked to finish sixth in the PacWest Preseason Poll, Biola has gone 4-3 through non-conference play, defeating Cal State San Marcos, Seattle Pacific, Stanislaus State, and No. 21 Alaska Anchorage most recently. The Eagles rank in the conference's top three in every statistical category including second in kills (12.88) and assists (11.88) with a tandem of hitters, Meredith Fisher (3.31) and Dominique Kirton (3.22), both inside the top eight individually. Kirton adds the PacWest's best service aces per set average (0.57) and another duo, Bri Bellfi (4.69) and Bethany Bellfi (4.23), are second and third respectively in digs per set. Though BU holds an 8-1 historical lead over Academy of Art, the Urban Knights come off a sweep of the Eagles last season.

INSIDE THE ZU
Just ahead of Biola at fifth in the PacWest Preseason Poll, Azusa Pacific has emerged from non-conference action with three wins to five losses, besting UC Colorado Springs, Northwest Nazarene, and SF State while falling to ranked opponents such as No. 4 Wayne State and Cal Poly Pomona. The Cougars collectively are second in the conference in blocks per set (2.32) led by the pairing of Kyra Palmbush (1.24) who is second individually and Kendyl Macaskill (1.08) who is sixth. Meanwhile, PacWest Preseason Team honoree Annaka Jorgenson sits fourth in the PacWest at 3.64 kills per set. Recent success for the Cougars has them in front of ART U 12-3 all time.

ON POINT
Point Loma looked at a runner-up finish to defending champion Chaminade in the PacWest Preseason Poll and has since gone 3-4 with wins over Seattle Pacific, Cal State San Marcos, and SF State all coming before three straight losses to Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State East Bay, and Simon Fraser. The Sea Lions, who are slated to face Dominican on Sept. 13, pace the PacWest in blocks per set (2.34) with their own tandem of Anna Massari (1.16) and Torina Hommes (0.80) fourth and 10th respectively individually in the conference rankings. Massari also leads the conference with a .385 hitting percentage and Abigail Nua's 3.84 kills per set are second overall. PLNU is 16-1 historically versus Academy of Art.

URBAN KNIGHTS NEARLY CLAIM OPENING SET, FALL TO TOROS
Once more inside The Wolves' Den of Sonoma State on Sept. 8, Academy of Art volleyball concluded the Seawolves Volleyball Classic by executing an impressive run late in the first set that could have resulted in different early momentum, but Cal State Dominguez Hills ended up countering for the 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-16) victory in the end.

LOOKING AHEAD
The first homestand of the season for ART U brings six matches inside Kezar Pavilion starting with a rematch against Biola on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m.