Match #5
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Saint Martin's Saints (0-0)
Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #6
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Cal State San Marcos Cougars (3-1)
Friday, September 9, 2016 at 11:15 a.m.
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #7
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Cal State Monterey Bay Otters (1-2)
Friday, September 9, 2016 at 6 p.m.
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #8
ART U Urban Knights (1-3) vs. Cal State East Bay Pioneers (1-3)
Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Noon
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gym
Live Stats | Live Video

ACADEMY OF ART TO SHOWCASE SKILLS AGAINST GNAC, CCAA
After opening the season last weekend, ART U Volleyball will be back inside Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Gym this week for four matches in three days as part of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase (#D2VBShowcase).

FIRST SERVE
Beginning its second and final non-conference tournament of the year, ART U takes on Saint Martin's on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. then, on Sept. 9, faces Cal State San Marcos (11:15 a.m.) and Cal State Monterey Bay (6 p.m.). The tourney finale will be versus host Cal State East Bay on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. 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
Fourth in the PacWest in blocks at 2.06 per set thus far, Academy of Art currently carries the conference's blocking leader in junior middle blocker Margaret Winkler. She comes in at 1.44 blocks per set and has teamed often with redshirt freshman outside hitter Ema Causevic (0.63 blocks per set) to shut down opposing attacks. Offensively, seniors Melissa Brum and Kabrina Speakman pace the squad at 2.75 and 2.63 points per set while freshman setter Lilika Teu has worked in tandem with sophomore setter Alana Lucas for 4.06 and 3.81 assists per set respectively. Redshirt sophomore libero Lyndsay Mlynar is posting 4.63 digs per set to rank top six in the PacWest.

SAINTS COME MARCHING IN
After going 2-24 overall with just one win in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Saints return 14 players. During the offseason, SMU hired Jon Killingbeck to run the program and he brought in four new freshmen. The Saints are again young this season with only one senior in Maddie Knecht and look to be led by junior outside hitter Rebecca Mitchell, who returns having averaged 2.22 kills and 2.64 digs per set in her sophomore season. The Knights are 2-1 all-time against SMU, having last faced one another in 2013.

COUGARS A COMIN'
Despite going 6-23 overall last season, Cal State San Marcos has gotten off to a 3-1 start this year. At their own Cougar Classic Tournament, the first in program history, San Marcos defeated La Sierra, Johnson & Wales (Colo.), and Fort Lewis (Colo.) while falling to Westmont. Picked to finish sixth in the CCAA's South Division, the Cougars swept Chico State to highlight their first year in the conference in 2015. Among the team's 12 returners are points per set leaders Lauren Lee, (3.31), Madi Anderson (3.12), and Maddy Newcombe (3.06). Friday will be the first meeting of the Knights and Cougars.

OBSERVING THE OTTERS
At Dixie State for its first tournament of the year, Cal State Monterey Bay was swept by Northwest Nazarene and the host Trailblazers, but did come away with a five-set victory over Black Hills State. The Otters went 5-20 overall last season, but among their returners are Maddy Underwood and Anela Visesio who are each averaging 2.86 points per set thus far. In five historical meetings, CSUMB leads ART U 3-2.

PIONEERS REAPPEAR
Familiar with Cal State East Bay after facing them once last weekend, Academy of Art will enter the rematch leading 1-0 and tied 2-2 in the all-time matchup. CSUEB was picked to finish sixth ahead of CSUMB in the CCAA's North Division and wrapped up its own Route 92 Showdown with a 1-3 record after defeating Holy Names. The team is led by Deja Thompson's 3.22 points per set as well as Kiki Leuteneker's 3.18 points per set.

KNIGHTS OPEN YEAR 1-3 AT ROUTE 92 SHOWDOWN
Four matches in two days saw Academy of Art go into the fifth set twice on Sept. 2, falling to Humboldt State 3-2 then defeating Cal State East Bay 3-2. Day two in Belmont was the reverse in terms of length as Barry and Chico State each topped ART U by respective 3-0 scores.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights will go from playing eight matches over the course of eight days to just a single contest next week. Academy of Art opens PacWest Conference play at Dominican on the afternoon of Sept. 17.