PacWest Release

Phoenix, AZ -- The Academy of Art University women's volleyball team had a new coach and some new faces during the 2012 season, and as the year has come to a close, three Urban Knights were recognized by the rest of the conference coaches in the PacWest postseason awards. Sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Elgin made the All-PacWest Third Team, while senior libero Janelle Burnett and freshman setter Rachael Smith both earned All-PacWest Honorable Mentions for the Knights. The honors were announced on Monday evening by the PacWest offices in Phoenix.

"I am thrilled for our honorees this season," said head coach Ed Jackson. "For Lindsay and Rachael, it's the beginning of a great things to come for our up and coming program. Many people don't know that Lindsay wore a splint from a thumb injury most of the season. She did an amazing job fighting through the pain since she had to hit and block often for us requiring her to use her hands."

Elgin was a force for the Urban Knights, leading the team in hitting percentage with a .284 mark, and was second on the team in total kills with 222. The sophomore also amassed 112 total blocks, which was good for third in the PacWest in total blocks and tied for fourth for blocks per set. She made the PacWest Weekly Fantastic 15 four times in her first year with the Knights, highlighted by a 20-kill performance against UH Hilo on Sep. 28.

"Rachael improved dramatically throughout the season," said Jackson. "Her decision making improved boosting her assists per set average. Rachael and Lindsay provides us some building blocks for our team. With an off-season to train, expectations will be high next season."

Smith freshman finished the year averaging 9.53 assists per set on the season, which ranked fourth in the PacWest. She was one of five players in the conference to top the 900-assist mark, totaling 915 sets on the year, and made the PacWest Weekly Fantastic 15 five times. Smith topped the 40-set mark 10 times, and crossed the 50-set threshold five times this year, including a 54-set performance against Humboldt State early in the year.

Janelle Burnett transferred after her sophomore year from Dodge City Community College, and this year settled into the starting libero role. She is leading the team in digs, totaling 459 digs this season, and also has the single-season record for digs per game, averaging 4.64 per contest. Burnett, a Liberal, KS native, owns two of the top five single-game performances at libero for the Knights, putting up 30 digs against Dominican earlier this year.

"I am very proud of Janelle," said Jackson. "She did not get many opportunities to compete last season and proved she was one of the best liberos in our conference being one of four selected. It's just a great way to leave our program. We are thrilled she will continue to work with us as a student assistant.  Here experience will be invaluable for our incoming athletes next season."