PacWest Conference Players of the Week (Nov. 16)

IRVINE, Calif. -- A leader distributing the ball, senior setter Rachael Smith has earned the honor of Co-Pacific West Conference Player of the Week. Impressive numbers involving her teammates along with the career milestone of 4,000 assists highlighted Smith performances in a pair of victories for Academy of Art University volleyball. The award was based on matches played Nov.9-15.
 
In the Urban Knights' 3-1 victory over California Baptist, ranked second in the PacWest standings, on Nov. 13, Smith turned in her sixth double-double of the year with 48 assists and 14 digs. She added five kills with no errors for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. The following afternoon against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 14, Smith once again finished with a double-double, posting 46 assists and 10 digs in another 3-1 win. The Clovis, Calif. native became the second PacWest Conference athlete ever to reach the 4,000 career assist mark early in the fourth set against the Cougars. On the weekend, Smith set up her teammates for success as five different Urban Knights had 7+ kills in each match.

Smith finished the week averaging 11.75 assists and 12.0 digs per match. She currently ranks fourth in the PacWest in assists per set, up to a 10.08 average with two matches left.

This is Smith's 11th career PacWest weekly honor, but her first Player of the Week award to date.