Match #11
ART U Urban Knights (2-8) vs. UCSC Banana Slugs (3-8)
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 7 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Match #12
ART U Urban Knights (2-8, 0-4 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (3-9, 2-2 PWC)
Friday, September 29, 2017 at 5 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

ACADEMY OF ART GOES BACK-TO-BACK AT HOME
Back in San Francisco after its brief Hawaii roadtrip, Academy of Art University volleyball is set to host NCAA Division III UC Santa Cruz and Fresno Pacific this week.

FIRST SERVE
ART U will play the first of two matches during a three-day span with non-conference opponent UCSC in town on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. The resumption of conference play follows with Fresno Pacific also coming to Kezar Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 29 at 5 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
Currently third in the PacWest in service aces per set (1.66) and one of six teams averaging more than two blocks per set (2.02), Academy of Art has its two seniors very much involved in the offense. Senior middle blocker Margaret Winkler, who averages the fourth-most blocks per set in the conference (1.21), has moved to within seven blocks of the program's career record (after already becoming the career block assists leader last week). Outside hitter and fellow senior Bailey Soolsma is one of two Knights to rank among the PacWest's top 10 in kills per set (3.29). Though early, that average would be on pace to finish as the sixth-highest in program single-season history. Both Winkler and Soolsma have also led the way in service aces combining for a little over a half per set. With Soolsma, freshman outside hitter Kimiah Johnson finds herself ranked 10th in the conference in kills per set (3.10) after logging 13 in each of ART U's two matches in Hawaii. Sophomore setter Lilika Teu remains sixth in the PacWest in assists per set at an average of 7.32.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S
After starting their season with wins over Mills and Western New England, UC Santa Cruz was hit with seven consecutive losses. The Banana Slugs recently broke the streak with another sweep of Mills then moved to 3-8 upon falling to Menlo on Sept. 20. UCSC is led offensively by Claire Okerlund's 2.24 kills per set and adds the Association of Division III Independents' second-ranked digs per set average (4.61) from Monica Lee. This will be the first-ever meeting between Academy of Art and UC Santa Cruz.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
In a similar path as UC Santa Cruz, Fresno Pacific defeated Adelphi in its season-opener then experienced a seven-match losing streak. The Sunbirds would begin PacWest play by defeating Dominican 3-1 and have since dropped matches to Azusa Pacific and Chaminade before topping UH Hilo 3-1. FPU ranks second in the conference in digs per set (16.89) in large part because of Sierra LeBeau's 3.35 digs per set and five other Sunbirds who average 2.60+. Fresno Pacific's top hitter is Kara Mitchell who is currently putting up 2.79 kills per set. In nine previous meetings, FPU carries an 8-1 all-time lead over ART U.

ACADEMY OF ART RALLIES IN 3RD, HPU PREVAILS
Bouncing back from two competitive sets to start, ART U volleyball took control in the third set, but could not hold on, dropping a 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19) decision to Hawaii Pacific inside Saint Andrew's Priory on Sept. 23. As Academy of Art found its rhythm, three of sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Argelander's career-high nine kills came in the third set alone.

LOOKING AHEAD
As PacWest play rolls on, Academy of Art will head to Southern California next week to face three teams, California Baptist, Azusa Pacific, and Point Loma, all among the upper half of the conference standings thus far.