Match #28
ART U Urban Knights (7-20, 5-13 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (9-13, 7-11 PWC)
Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco, Calif. – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #29
ART U Urban Knights (7-20, 5-13 PWC) vs. Holy Names Hawks (2-24, 1-17 PWC)
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Oakland, Calif. – Tobin Gymnasium
Live Stats & Live Video

ACADEMY OF ART HOSTS FPU IN HOME FINALE, ENDS ON ROAD AT HNU
On the approach to their final two matches of the season, the Urban Knights are set to host Fresno Pacific on Thursday before concluding at Holy Names on Saturday. Fan Buses for Thursday will depart 620 Sutter at 6:45 p.m.

FIRST SERVE
ART U's penultimate match of the year takes place this Thursday, Nov. 17 against Fresno Pacific inside Kezar Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. That will be followed by the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Holy Names Tobin Gymnasium. In partnership with the Alameda County Community Food Bank, HNU is offering free admission to Saturday's match for any guest who brings a non-perishable canned food item. 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 now risen to second in the PacWest Conference in service aces per set (1.63). Junior middle blocker Margaret Winkler leads ART U with 1.06 blocks per set (5th in PacWest) after recently eclipsing the 100-block mark for a single season. She ranks third all-time with 217, putting her just 13 behind Lindsay Elgin and 50 back of Amy Bush. After yet another milestone as the program's career digs leader, senior libero Melissa Brum became the first Urban Knight to reach 1,000+ in points (1510.5), kills (1,353), and digs (1,112). Freshman setter Lilika Teu has risen to eighth in the PacWest in assists per set (7.03) while redshirt freshman Ema Causevic remains third in the PacWest in service aces per set (0.40), a mark that is currently tied for the highest single-season average in program history. Senior outside hitter Kabrina Speakman heads into her final two matches 11 digs shy of 900 in her career.

FLIGHT OF THE SUNBIRDS
The Sunbirds' 3-1 win over ART U on Oct. 22 started Fresno Pacific on a three-match winning streak, but four consecutive losses ensued during their stretch of three of four at home. Most recently, FPU topped Dominican 3-1 on Nov. 12 and finishes the year hosting NDNU on Nov. 19 after Thursday's match in San Francisco. Montana Lowe, who ranks fourth in the PacWest in hitting percentage (.318), led the Sunbirds with 16 kills when they last played Academy of Art. Against the Knights, FPU is 7-1 all-time.

NAMES GAME
After Academy of Art defeated Holy Names 3-0 on Oct. 20, the Hawks fell in the four matches that followed, but ended up sweeping UH Hilo on Nov. 11 for their first PacWest win of the year. A loss to Point Loma on Nov. 12 leads HNU into a two-match week where they will face Notre Dame de Namur on the road before hosting ART U on Saturday. Melissa Munley paces Holy Names with 2.57 kills per set while the tandem of Daisy Valladares and Vanessa Flores have combined for 6.70 digs per set. The win earlier this season was the Knights' 12th in 16 historical meetings.

SWORDS COME BACK TO TOP KNIGHTS 3-1
Though Academy of Art University volleyball claimed the opening set against Chaminade on Nov. 14 inside Kezar Pavilion, steady offense by the Silverswords helped them battle back for the win 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18). Sophomore outside hitter Hanna Kahn finished with both a match-high and career-high 12 kills to lead ART U.