STRONG NON-CONFERENCE PLAY SETS ART U UP FOR PACWEST OPENER
Off to its best start since 2009, Academy of Art University Volleyball now not only returns home for the first time this season, but does so welcoming its first official Pacific West Conference opponent, Dominican University, this Wednesday.

OPENING SERVE
At home for the first time this season, Academy of Art plays host to Dominican on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 PM inside Kezar Pavilion. 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
ART U concludes non-conference play ranked second in the PacWest in hitting percentage (.242) and service aces per set (1.90) as well as fourth in both assists per set (12.41) and points per set (16.9). With an array of players who excel on both sides of the volleyball, the Knights are led by sophomore Melissa Brum, a PacWest/GNAC All-Tournament Team honoree, who stands atop the PacWest lists in kills per set (4.55), total kills (132), and points per set (5.00). Averaging 3.00 digs per set, she also has six double-doubles through eight matches. Fellow sophomore Emily Papale came through with two of her three double-doubles on the year this past week, offering a season-best 16 kills with 14 digs against Seattle Pacific.

Senior Kanoe Irvine leads the conference in service aces per set (0.52) and is tied with Papale at eighth overall in digs per set (3.45). Irvine's 100 digs on the year give her 717 in her career, moving her up to third in program history behind Leinani Keanini (822). Junior Rachael Smith ranks second in the PacWest in assists per set (11.03) and, with 320 assists on the year, is already past halfway to the 611 assists she needs to become the new ART U career leader.

THE DUEL WITH DOMINICAN
In Colorado for its first four contests, Dominican managed to take only a single set against some elite competition. Minnesota State Mankato topped the Penguins 3-1 then 3-0 finals were administered by #18 Colorado School of Mines, #14 Grand Valley State, and Minnesota State Moorhead. On the other side of the PacWest/GNAC Crossover (sometimes literally on the adjacent court), Dominican started by defeating Montana State Billings 3-1 and Simon Fraser 3-0 before falling to Seattle Pacific 3-0 and Western Oregon 3-1. The now 2-6 Penguins come off a 12-18 record in 2013 and are picked to finish eighth just ahead of ART U in the preseason coaches' poll. The squad is led by Aime Steinwand (2.93 kills/set), Samantha Rains (1.44 blocks/set), and Amanda Lee (4.10 digs/set). Dominican holds a 9-5 advantage in the all-time matchup with the Urban Knights.

ART U EXITS PACWEST/GNAC CROSSOVER 5-3 OVERALL
Challenging foes from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the PacWest/GNAC Crossover, Academy of Art went 2-2 in the three-day tournament. On Sept. 11, ART U rallied back from a first set loss to Seattle Pacific by evening the match in the second. The teams eventually battled their way into a fifth set which SPU ultimately claimed, taking the 3-2 win. The Knights would bounce back the next day, however, as they swept Western Oregon 3-0 behind a strong game from Brum. On the final day, Academy of Art again offered a comeback, this time against Montana State Billings, whom ART U prevailed over 3-1. Simon Fraser got the better of the Knights in the last contest, winning 3-0.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Knights' seven-match homestand next features three contests in three days as Azusa Pacific (Sept. 25), Dixie State (Sept. 26), and California Baptist (Sept. 27) come to Kezar Pavilion. The Friday contest against DSU will be a special "Battle of the Halls" event so be sure to sign up to ride the Fan Bus to that and other games HERE!