Match #13
ART U Urban Knights (7-5, 2-2 PWC) vs. UH Hilo Vulcans (3-4, 2-2 PWC)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 7:30 PM
San Francisco, CA – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Video

Match #14
ART U Urban Knights (7-5, 2-2 PWC) vs. Hawaii Pacific Sharks (3-6, 1-2 PWC)
Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 7:30 PM
San Francisco, CA – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Video

Match #15
ART U Urban Knights (7-5, 2-2 PWC) vs. #4 BYU-Hawaii Seasiders (6-3, 3-0 PWC)
Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:30 PM
San Francisco, CA – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Video

KNIGHTS' 3-2 WIN OVER CALIFORNIA BAPTIST PROPELS WEEK AHEAD
For the first time in program history, Academy of Art defeated California Baptist on the volleyball court this past Saturday, Sept. 27. The Knights and Lancers battled into the fifth set, but ART U went on to prevail, setting themselves up for three Hawaiian opponents in town over the next week.

OPENING SERVE
Three more home matches start Oct. 1 with Hawaii Pacific in town on Wednesday then UH Hilo here on Thursday, Oct. 2 and, finally, #4 BYU-Hawaii coming in Monday, Oct. 6. All matches will take place inside Kezar Pavilion and are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

#ShareYourShot
If you have not yet voted, head to the @ARTU_Knights Instagram to vote for your favorite of the five photos to the right which are competing for Adolph Gasser gift card prizes to be announced at Wednesday's match between the second and third sets. The photo with the most 'Like's by that point will be crowned the winner.

KNIGHT WATCH
Academy of Art currently sits in the PacWest's top six with a 2-2 conference record. The Urban Knights are first overall in digs (285) and total attacks (593) as well as second in block assists (55). Sophomore Melissa Brum had another strong week in which she averaged 19.3 kills and 14.0 digs per match, moving her to Top 10 in NCAA Division II in points per set (4.93) and kills per set (4.47). She has 10 double-doubles in 11 total matches for ART U.

Earning recognition for a tough effort on the block was Margaret Winkler who earned PacWest Freshman of the Week. She posted six rejections Thursday versus Azusa Pacific and four each against Dixie State and Cal Baptist en route to 1.08 blocks per set. Winkler is currently the top freshman in the PacWest in both blocks per set (1.03) and total blocks (32).

Third in the PacWest, junior Rachael Smith moved up to 26th in the country in assists per set (10.93), and now needs just 119 more to become the program's all-time record holder. Sophomore Emily Papale ranks among the conference's Top 20 in points per set at 3.10 and has logged four double-doubles this year en route to a 3.60 digs per set average just behind senior Kanoe Irvine's 3.76. Irvine is closing in on ART U's top two career digs leaders as she now has 786 as an Urban Knight behind Dan Yang's 830 and Leinani Keanini's 822. Irvine also remains among the PacWest leaders in service aces per set, holding second overall (0.49).

A VISIT FROM THE VULCANS
UH Hilo has had an up-and-down season thus far. After splitting against Deamen College and Florida Tech to start the year, the Vulcans fell to Chaminade twice and also defeated the Silverswords 3-0 in Hilo. Starting PacWest play against fellow schools on the islands, UH Hilo topped HPU 3-1 and fell to BYU-Hawaii 3-0. The team is led by Marley Strand-Nicolaisen who is averaging 3.36 kills and 4.0 points per set. Additionally, Hilo carries Shelby Harguess, ranked third in the PacWest in blocks per set (1.23). Historically, the Vulcans hold an 8-1 advantage over ART U.

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS
Starting their year in Washington at the Hampton Inn Wildcat Invite, Hawaii Pacific took a pair of losses (to UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino) before sweeping Cal State Stanislaus 3-0. Non-conference play continued that pattern with two more losses to Sonoma State and Western Washington before another sweep, this one of Saint Martin's. The trend carried in PacWest action as UH Hilo and BYU-Hawaii defeated HPU prior to a 3-2 Sharks win at Chaminade. Pomai Recca currently leads Hawaii Pacific with averages of 4.2 points, 3.71 kills, and 3.37 digs per set.   All-time against the Knights, HPU is leading 6-3, but ART U did pull off a thrilling 3-2 win in last year's matchup, a contest that saw Brum go for 23 kills and 21 digs.

SEASIDERS STORMING WEST SIDE
Currently the lone ranked team in the PacWest Conference, BYU-Hawaii is #4 on the latest AVCA DII Coaches Poll and comes off a 2013 season that saw the Seasiders finish runner-up to NCAA Champion Concordia-St. Paul after being swept in the finals. Nevertheless, BYUH went 29-2 last year and has since been strong in 2014 with their only losses coming to Minnesota Duluth, Concordia once again, and Tampa (currently the nation's 1-3 in rankings). The Seasiders are perfect in PacWest play to date, having defeated Chaminade 3-0, Hawaii Pacific 3-2, and UH Hilo 3-0. Preseason Player of the Year Shih Ting Chen has lived up to the hype and is currently ranked #2 in the country in points per set (5.35) and kills per set (4.73). In nine historic meetings, ART U has not defeated BYU-Hawaii.

KNIGHTS OUTLAST LANCERS IN FIVE SET TRIUMPH
Uniting throughout a memorable battle with one of the PacWest's top contenders, Academy of Art University Volleyball knocked off California Baptist 3-2 (25-21, 14-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-10) on Sept. 27 inside Kezar Pavilion. The Urban Knights lived their "Be First. Be Positive." mentality as stellar performances came from up and down the lineup, highlighted by 22 kills from Brum and a career-high 16 kills by senior  Brittany Ulmer .

LOOKING AHEAD
With the conclusion of ART U's seven-match homestand on Monday, the Knights will head to Southern California at the end of next week for matchups with California Baptist (Oct. 10) once again followed by Point Loma (Oct. 11).