DOTW Release | Final 5 Release

Phoenix, AZ -- After packing in four games in the last seven days, the Academy of Art University women's volleyball got back into the conference race and also earned some recognition for the work they did, as junior middle blocker Lindsay Elgin was named the PacWest Defender of the Week. Rachael Smith also made the Final 5 after piling up the assists in the last week. The awards were announced Monday for matches played Oct. 7-13.

The Defender of the Week honor is awarded each week to a libero, middle blocker or overall outstanding defensive player, and Elgin was just that, leading the Urban Knights to a 2-2 week in conference action by topping the PacWest in blocks per set. She averaged 1.50 rejections per set after totaling 21 in 14 sets. Elgin is still in second place in the conference in blocks per set behind Malika O'Brien of California Baptist, but the difference is only 0.08 blocks per set.

Elgin continues to be one of the most impressive blockers in the Academy of Art's short history, as the 6'3 senior has already worked herself into third place all-time on the career blocks list with 203, just behind Angela Heath's 207 and well within reach of Amy Bush's mark of 267. Remarkably, Elgin's ascent up the charts has happened in only 44 matches and 169 sets, in comparison to Heath (109 matches, 394 sets) and Bush (81 matches, 293 sets).

Smith continues to cement herself as one of the more active setters in the conference, ranking fourth in the conference with 10.53 assists per set.  She totaled 159 assists over four matches and led the PacWest in total assists for the week, while also ranking third for the week in assists per set (11.36). Smith is also on pace for some personal and team records, totaling 737 assists here in 2013. With 10 matches to go and Smith averaging over 10 assists per set, ART U fans may see her break the 1000 assist plateau for the first time. This is the second week in a row that Smith has spent on the Final 5.

ART U has a pair of games at home this week before heading to Hawaii next week.