Match #22
ART U Urban Knights (6-15, 4-8 PWC) vs. Azusa Pacific Cougars (10-13, 6-8 PWC)
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Azusa, Calif. – Felix Event Center
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #23
ART U Urban Knights (6-15, 4-8 PWC) vs. California Baptist Lancers (16-5, 11-2 PWC)
Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Riverside, Calif. – Van Dyne Gym
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #24
ART U Urban Knights (6-15, 4-8 PWC) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (8-14, 6-7 PWC)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 3 p.m.
San Diego, Calif. – Golden Gymnasium
Live Stats & Live Video

ART U FACES COUGARS, LANCERS, SEA LIONS ON ROADTRIP
Moving through the second half of the Pacific West Conference season, the Urban Knights now head out on their final extended roadtrip of the year this week. Academy of Art University will look to gain ground on three teams ahead in the PacWest standings in Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, and Point Loma all in a four-day span.

FIRST SERVE
Academy of Art's Southern California roadtrip begins at Azusa Pacific this Wednesday, Nov. 2. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Cougars' Felix Event Center. The Knights will travel some 40 miles to Riverside and California Baptist's Van Dyne Gym for a match the following evening (Nov. 3) at 7 p.m. Finally, ART U ends up in San Diego at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium for a 3 p.m. start on Saturday, Nov. 5. 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.

KNIGHT WATCH
Academy of Art has maintained its spot in fourth in the PacWest in both blocks per set (2.15) and service aces per set (1.64). Although junior middle blocker Margaret Winkler's place atop the conference in blocks per set was usurped by Amber Rose of No. 25 Concordia, the Advertising major is still second at 1.14 rejections per set (34th in NCAA DII). Winkler needs just one more blocks to become the fourth Knight to register 200 blocks in a career, joining greats Amy Bush, Lindsay Elgin, and Angela Heath. Senior outside hitter Melissa Brum, who averages a team-high 3.12 kills per set, enjoyed multiple historic moments in ART U's previous match as she became the program leader in both kills and points. She can add "Career Digs Leader" to her resume with 21 more as her 1,057 digs are second to Kanoe Irvine's 1,077. Freshman setter Lilika Teu could have a chance to move into eighth in the PacWest in assists per set this week as her 6.71 mark sits a fraction of a set behind Concordia's Morgan Nunley coming in. Third in the PacWest in service aces per set (0.42), redshirt freshman Ema Causevic remains on pace to produce the highest single-season average in program history.

VISITING THE ZU
With two more conference wins that Academy of Art, Azusa Pacific currently sits in the ninth spot in the PacWest standings.  The Cougars started the year 0-4, but won four of their next five and have never lost or won more than two consecutive matches since starting conference play. APU most recently won two of three in Hawaii before falling to No. 25 Concordia on Oct. 29. Coming in with the fourth-highest hitting percentage in the conference (.340) and a 2.47 kills per set average, Julianne Miller is the Cougars' top offensive threat. ART U and APU have met four times previously with each team having two wins to their name.

LOOKING AT THE LANCERS
Currently just one PacWest win behind No. 25 and first-place Concordia, California Baptist has remained high on the conference standings for much of the year. The Lancers received votes on the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 National Poll and have enjoyed separate win streaks of both six and five matches thus far in 2016. The former was CBU's start to PacWest play and since that time losses have only come to Notre Dame de Namur and Chaminade. California Baptist is 5-1 in its past six matches and comes in with the highest hitting percentage (.281) and blocks per set average (2.31) in the conference. A big reason why is the collective play of Jenna Perry (.331 hitting percentage), Lauren Hackett (4.49 kills per set), Jessica Harris (1.06 blocks per set), and Abbie Gortsema (1.04 blocks per set). ART U won most recently against CBU, but faces a 6-2 deficit in the all-time matchup.

TRAVERSING A SEA OF GREEN
Barely ahead of Azusa Pacific in the conference standings, Point Loma started the year 2-7, but rose above .500 at 5-3 to start PacWest play. Since that time, PLNU has gone 1-4 and the going gets no easier as the Sea Lions challenge No. 25 Concordia on Nov. 2 prior to facing Academy of Art. Point Loma's primary offensive threat is Brianna Sizemore whose 3.44 kills per set lead the team while Christin Fisher's 5.76 digs per set have her atop the PacWest. PLNU holds a 5-0 all-time advantage against the Urban Knights.

BRUM MAKES HISTORY DESPITE DIXIE'S TRIUMPH
On Oct. 29 inside Kezar Pavilion, Academy of Art University volleyball stood up to defending Pacific West Conference champion Dixie State in each set, but ended up falling 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-19). The day was not without numerous highlights as Brum made history by setting the program's new career kills and points records early on.

LOOKING AHEAD
ART U remains on the road for its next match after this Southern California trip, heading to Notre Dame de Namur on Nov. 10 before returning home to host UH Hilo on Nov. 12.