Match #4
ART U Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Chico State Wildcats (1-3)
Friday, September 13, 2019 at Noon
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #5
ART U Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Saint Martin's Saints (0-5)
Friday, September 13, 2019 at 5 p.m.
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #6
ART U Urban Knights (0-3) vs. Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (1-3)
Saturday, September 14, 2019 at Noon
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #7
ART U Urban Knights (0-3) vs. UC San Diego Tritons (2-2)
Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 5 p.m.
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Live Stats | Live Video (ESPN 3)

ACADEMY OF ART FACES QUARTET IN D2 WEST REGION SHOWCASE
After opening the season in Carson with Cal State Dominguez Hills' Toro Classic this past weekend, ART U volleyball returns to Southern California for this year's D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase hosted by UC San Diego. The tournament that Academy of Art hosted last year will once again feature back-to-back doubleheaders with a mix of opponents from the California Collegiate Athletic Association and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

FIRST SERVE
The Urban Knights begin the D2 West Region Showcase on Friday, Sept. 13 with a noon matchup against Chico State followed by a pairing with Saint Martin's at 5 p.m. The following day, Saturday, Sept. 14, features Montana State Billings at noon and tournament host UC San Diego at 5 p.m. All matches will take place inside UCSD's RIMAC Arena and live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
As the season begins, it is junior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak and sophomore middle blocker Jillian Wheaton who lead the team offensively. Pawlak has put up a 2.91 points per set average primarily by way of 2.45 kills per set while Wheaton's 2.64 points per set are a combination of her 2.14 kills and 0.71 blocks per set. Pawlak coincidentally adds 2.91 digs per set, but it is junior libero Catharina Brant Bambirra who paces the squad at 3.00 digs per set. Ranked eighth in the PacWest after one week of action, sophomore setter Picabo Reinhold carries a 7.27 assists per set average after posting her first double-double of the year with 32 assists and 11 digs against La Sierra.

THE STATE OF CHICO
Picked to finish fifth in the seven-member North Division of the CCAA according to the preseason coaches poll, Chico State comes into this weekend 1-3 after falling to all three PacWest Hawaii schools in the Hawaii Challenge Tournament. Three of their first four matches reached five sets and it was Minot State whom the Wildcats defeated 3-2 to start the year. Kim Wright (3.39 kills and 1.00 blocks per set) and Brooke Ono (CCAA-leading 9.44 assists per set) serve as the team's top talents. In three previous matches, Chico State holds a 3-0 record all-time versus the Urban Knights.

SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
After going 4-22 last year, Saint Martin's was selected to finish 11th in the GNAC according to the preseason coaches poll and has started 2019 still in search of a win after five matches of The Cougar Classic. SMU went to five sets against Western New Mexico, but was swept by Cal State San Marcos, Bentley, and host Azusa Pacific. Thus far, Saint Martin's has relied on Mackenzie Carter, whose 3.92 kills per set rank second in the GNAC, and the conference's digs leader Kylie Alos (9.70 digs per set). SMU, who will face UC San Diego and Chico State before Academy of Art, sits a slight 3-2 leader in the historical matchup with ART U.

FOOTING THE BILL-INGS
In Nebraska for the Chadron State Tournament to start 2019, Montana State Billings, picked to finish ninth in the GNAC according to the preseason coaches poll, opened 1-3 which included a sweep of Fort Hays State. Bayli Monck's 3.31 kills per set and Makayla Baca's 4.62 digs per set are both top 10 in the GNAC. Montana State Billings finish the tournament with ART U after facing Chico State, UCSD, and Concordia (Calif.). Academy of Art leads MSUB 3-1 all-time.

TALKING TRITONS
Slated to finish third in the South Division of the CCAA according to the preseason coaches poll, UC San Diego began 2019 in Alaska with the Seawolf Invitational. Scoring wins over Concord and tournament host Alaska Anchorage, the Tritons emerged 2-2, falling to Regis and Biola in back-to-back five-setters. UCSD will take on Saint Martin's, Montana State Billings, and Concordia (Calif.) all before the Urban Knights. Sydney Tekstra (2.47 kills per set) and Trinity Castaneda (2.24 kills per set) serve as the team's top offensive tandem. Saturday will be the first-ever meeting of ART U and UC San Diego.

LOOKING AHEAD
With its first two non-conference tournaments complete, Academy of Art next enters into PacWest play which begins with an eight-part homestand. Concordia (Calif.) and Biola will be the first to face off against ART U inside Kezar Pavilion on Sept. 20 (7 p.m.) and Sept. 21 (3 p.m.) respectively.