GAME #1, 2
Thursday September 2, 1:00 PM
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Northwood University (0-0)

GAME# 2, 3
Friday September 3, 11:00 AM, 7:00 PM
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal Poly Pomona (0-0)
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal State LA (0-0)

GAME#4
Saturday September 4, 5:00 PM
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Simon Fraser University (0-0)

OPENING SERVE:
The Sept. 2 match against Northwood University marks the beginning of their much anticipated 2010 season. AAU will take part in a four game tournament co-hosted by Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State LA.
The teams include Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA, Northwood University, Simon Fraser University, Academy of Art University, and fellow PacWest opponent Dixie State College. All games will be available via Live Stats - Click here to access

LOOKING BEYOND:
Following their trip down south the Urban Knight women's volleyball team travels to Missouri to take part in the Peggy Martin Classic hosted by University of Central Missouri.

SCOUTING THE TIMBERWOLVES
The Northwood University Timberwolves went 8-19 last season, and return their top offensive player in Sladjana Mitrovic. The 6'1 senior registered 317 kills 36 blocks as a junior. Jolyn Timms, also a senior, played in 30 matches, racked up 126 kills, 55 digs and 33 blocks. Lauren Chapman was honorable mention All-GLIAC and she played in 28 of 30 matches she is the Timberwolves starting setter and finished the 2009 season with 1138 assists.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Cal Poly Pomona has just four upperclassmen to lead their relatively young team this season. Kristen McNeese was second on the team last season in terms of kills, she registered 238 in 100 games.
Sophomore Lindsey Poulos returns for the Broncos as their leading blocker. Poulos batted away 88 total blocks which ranked her fifth in the CCAA.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Cal State LA finished their 2009 season ranked 15th in the nation. They were predicted to finish third within the CCAA. Cal State L.A., which reached the NCAA West Region championship match last season, finished with a 23-9 overall record in 2009 and placed third in the CCAA with a 17-5 mark. The AVCA ranked CSU LA 14^th in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Top-25 poll. The Golden Eagles welcome back 10 players, including five starters, from last year's team. Three of those players – junior middle blocker Mary Laupepa, senior outside hitter Zuzana Cizova and sophomore middle blocker Marquis Mora – earned All-CCAA honors last year. Cizova registered 283 kills on the season while Mora led the team in total blocks with 111. Laupepa earned first-team All-Conference recognition, while Cizova and Mora earned second-team honors. Cizova was also named the CCAA Newcomer of the Year.

SCOUTING THE CLAN
Simon Fraser University went 3-17 overall and 2-10 at home last season. Coach Sulatycki enters her 15th season as Head Coach and returns just three players from last year's squad. Senior Brianna Kellough saw action in 37 sets in 17 matches and had 90 digs last season. Junior Cheryl Windhorst played in 16 matches during her sophomore campaign and registered 22 kills and 18 total blocks. While Sophomore Chelsea Elvy knocked down 32 kills and had 34 digs.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS:
The Academy of Art Urban Knights, under Head Coach Marcus Young, were predicted to finish sixth in the PacWest Conference according to the PacWest volleyball coaches.

Academy of Art senior outside hitter Dan Yang (Beijing, China/Beijing 5th Sports School) earned herself another preseason All-PacWest First Team accolade this season. Last season she led the conference in scoring with a 4.80 points-per-game average, she totaled 571.5 points – a league high – on 518 kills (also tops in the PacWest), accumulated 19 aces, 13 block solos and 43 block assists. She ranked first in kills per game (4.35) within the PacWest.