Match #5
ART U Urban Knights (0-4) vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (3-2)
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 at 9 a.m. MT (8 a.m. PT)
Gunnison, Colo. – Paul Wright Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #6
ART U Urban Knights (0-4) vs. Western New Mexico Broncos (2-2)
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 at 1 p.m. MT (Noon PT)
Gunnison, Colo. – Paul Wright Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #7
ART U Urban Knights (0-4) vs. Western Colorado Mountaineers (0-5)
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at 9 a.m. MT (8 a.m. PT)
Gunnison, Colo. – Paul Wright Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #8
ART U Urban Knights (0-4) vs. Fort Lewis Skyhawks (1-3)
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at 1 p.m. MT (Noon PT)
Gunnison, Colo. – Paul Wright Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

SECOND NON-CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TAKES KNIGHTS TO COLORADO
With its season-opening tournament in the rear view, Academy of Art volleyball moves into another busy weekend of non-conference play with action against four teams the Urban Knights have faced a collective three times in the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic. Check out the tournament homepage!

FIRST SERVE
Inside Paul Wright Gym in Gunnison, Colo., ART U faces Texas A&M-Kingsville and Western New Mexico first on Friday, Sept. 13 then turns around for matchups with tournament host Western Colorado and Fort Lewis on Saturday, Sept. 14. Matches on both days will take place at 9 a.m. MT (8 a.m. PT) and 1 p.m. MT (noon PT). 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
Four matches into the season, Academy of Art ranks fifth in the Pacific West Conference in service aces per set (1.75), notching four or more in all four contests. Among PacWest statistical leaders, senior setter Elly McInerney ranks fourth at 7.42 assists per set while freshman libero/defensive specialist Kyriah Trefren checks in at ninth in service aces per set (0.50). The Knights are led offensively by sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Alohi Garcia and graduate student opposite Claire Ricard at 2.83 and 2.50 kills per set respectively. Defensively, it is sophomore libero LC-Reece Nakagawa who paces the team with 2.83 digs per set and graduate student middle blocker Chandra Reed atop the blocks per set list (0.64).

JUDGING THE JAVELINAS
Picked to finish fourth out of 17 teams in the Lone Star Conference, Texas A&M-Kingsville comes off a strong 21-11 season in 2023, beginning 3-2 this fall. Four Javelinas are averaging over 2.30 kills per set led by Meghan Stiefer's 2.79 while Ayanna Jackson has been responsible for a team-best 1.05 blocks per frame. Friday will be the first meeting to date between ART U and TAMUK.

BRONCO BREAKDOWN
Further down at 15th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, Western New Mexico looks to bounce back from a 6-23 overall record last season and is off to a 2-2 start in 2024 thus far. Jazmyne Walker has shouldered most of the offensive load, averaging 3.53 kills per set with 42 more attempts than the next closest Bronco. Her 2.47 digs per set are second to Lilouann Bechec's impressive 5.13 average following two 20+ dig performances already. Academy of Art and WNMU have met just once previously when the Knights emerged victorious 3-1 last September in Turlock.

NAVIGATING THE MOUNTAINS
Out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Western Colorado is slated to finish 13th in the preseason poll after going 5-21 last year. Still in search of their first win of the season at 0-5, the Mountaineers will take on Washburn and Western New Mexico on the first day of their tournament before starting the second day versus ART U. The squad features impressive standouts including Maggie Olson and her 3.86 kills per set, Nur Turkmenoglu's 9.15 assists per set, and Chinaru Inoue's 5.70 digs per set. Saturday represents only the second time the Knights and Mountaineers have faced off and the first since 2011 when WCU with a five-set win.

SKYHAWK TALK
Fort Lewis was chosen for the ninth spot in the RMAC Preseason Poll following an even 13-13 campaign in 2023. Though holding just one victory through their first four matches of this year, the Skyhawks will have four more opportunities in the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic with TAMUK and Washburn both coming prior to Academy of Art. Though she had just two kills in FLC's most recent match, Lauren Shea still averages 3.50 kills per set to lead the way while Natalia Lambos enters with 9.47 assists per set in support. On the defensive end, Maddy Shumway paces the team at 4.44 digs per set. Like Western Colorado, Fort Lewis has not faced ART U since 2011 when the Skyhawks prevailed 3-2.

WARRIORS GET PAST ART U IN DEBUT WEEKEND'S LAST MATCHES
The Sept. 7 conclusion to the Sunbird Volleyball Classic had Academy of Art volleyball sustain a pair of tough defeats at the hands of Stanislaus State 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23) and Jessup 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 29-27) back inside Fresno Pacific's Special Events Center.

LOOKING AHEAD
PacWest action will be up next for ART U as the Knights open their conference slate with a pair in Hawaii versus UH Hilo (Sept. 19) and Hawaii Pacific (Sept. 21).