Match #1
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. La Sierra Golden Eagles (0-0)
Friday, September 6, 2019 at 4 p.m.
Carson, Calif. – Torodome
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #2
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Humboldt State Lumberjacks (0-0)
Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 9 a.m.
Carson, Calif. – Torodome
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #3
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros (0-0)
Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 4 p.m.
Carson, Calif. – Torodome
Live Stats | Live Video
 

SAN FRANCISCO – Armed with several dynamic talents from its previous season, Academy of Art University volleyball moves into the 2019 campaign poised to establish a new identity with half its roster rebuilt by second-year head coach Allen McCreary.

Navigating the most matches played since 2009, Academy of Art volleyball showed heart, determination, and resilience throughout the course of its 2018 season. For more on ART U's 2018 campaign, click here!

Beginning this Friday at Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Urban Knights' 2019 schedule will feature 30 matches with two tournaments, 11 home contests, a Hawaii roadtrip to end the regular season, and the opportunity to go head-to-head with many strong opponents in the Pacific West Conference including 2018 champion Azusa Pacific. For a full breakdown of Academy of Art's 2019 schedule, click here!

The team's lone senior is returning opposite Kiersten Kerch. One of three Knights to log more than 130 kills and 50 blocks last season, Kerch proved to be a reliable option on both sides of the volleyball. She joins a six-member junior class that mixes the familiar with the new. Outside hitter Ashley Pawlak, defensive specialist Michaela Charrette, and middle blocker Sadie Emery start their respective third years with the program while outside hitter Mariana Figueroa Ferreira, middle blocker Carly Evetts, and libero Catharina Brant Bambirra represent an incoming trio from Odessa College.

In 2018, Pawlak led the team in kills per set (2.53) while also ranking second in digs per set (2.89). She will be complemented offensively by Evetts whose collegiate resume includes First Team All-District, All-Conference, and Most Valuable Player honors at Odessa as well as a year as the program leader in hitting percentage (.375). Fellow Wranglers Figueroa Ferreira and Brant Bambirra also bring starting experience as the former was an All-American and leader in kills per set while the latter averaged over 2.50 digs per set in her first two seasons.

ART U's sophomore class is made up exclusively of returners with outside hitter Celena Davison, setter Picabo Reinhold, and middle blocker Jillian Wheaton looking to improve upon what they learned as freshman. Reinhold emerged as the team's starting setter in 2018, averaging 6.76 assists per set to rank fifth in the PacWest. Often the benefactor of those assists, Wheaton ended with All-PacWest Team Honorable Mention after finishing just .001 from the program's single-season hitting percentage record, converting kills at a .351 clip.

On the first-year front, defensive specialist Zoey Kister (San Diego/Valhalla) and outside hitter Annie Blumenstein (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) plus middle blockers Sierra Coenen (Geenville, Wis./Kaukauna) and Kylie Lenberg (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mesa Ridge) bring diverse talents from four different states. Lenberg was a three-sport student-athlete who earned Colorado Springs Metro All-League honors three times and captained both her volleyball team and basketball team.

Infused with the talents of many new student-athletes and guided by a strong returning core, Academy of Art University volleyball progresses into its 12th season this week.