Dominican (9/19): [Live stats] [Live video] 
Academy of Art (9/20): [Live stats]

THIS WEEK:
The Point Loma volleyball team will begin its 20-match Pacific West Conference schedule this week when it goes to the Bay Area for a trio of contests. The Sea Lions will open the road swing at Dominican (CA) on Thursday (Sept. 19) at 6:00 p.m. They will then take on Academy of Art on Friday and Holy Names on Saturday. Both matches will start at 7:00 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG:
The matches against both Dominican and Academy of Art will be available to track through live stats. The Dominican match will also be available on live video stream. Access to the live events will be available through Point Loma's website at www.plnusealions.com. For other matches click these following links: Dominican [Live stats] [Live video]  Academy of Art: [Live stats]

A LOOK AT THE SEA LIONS:
The Sea Lions wrapped up their non-conference portion of the schedule with a 6-3 record. After sweeping all four teams at its home Seaside Invitational, PLNU went on the road and defeated San Diego Christian in three sets, before going 1-3 at the UCSD Invite. The lone victory at the UCSD Invite was one of the biggest of the early season for Point Loma, as it knocked off No. 18 Cal State San Bernardino in five sets.

Heather Leavitt, who was named the MVP of the Seaside Invitational, leads Point Loma and ranks fifth in the PacWest with 3.97 kills per set. Fellow all-tournament selections at the Seaside Invitational, Alyssa Dwyer and Savannah Wedemeyer, are also ranked amongst the PacWest leaders. Wedemeyer is second in assists with 11.18 per set. Dwyer is seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.355), eighth in blocks (0.97) and 14th in kills (3.03).

As a team, the Sea Lions rank fourth in the league in both kills (13.82) and assists (12.79). They are also fifth in hitting percentage (.217) and service aces (1.61)

DWYER NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM:
Alyssa Dwyer was selected to the all-tournament team at the UCSD Invitational. The junior middle blocker from Gilbert, Ariz. (Gilbert HS), averaged over 2.81 kills per set and hit .280 for over the four matches. She posted 14 kills and a .435 hitting percentage in the Sea Lions' upset of No. 18 Cal State San Bernardino. Dwyer then came back later that evening to post a season-best 18 kills against Cal Poly Pomona.

RECEVING VOTES:
Point Loma was amongst the teams receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 rankings. PLNU received three votes in the Sept. 16 poll. This was the first time PLNU has ever been listed amongst the NCAA volleyball rankings. [AVCA Top 25 poll]

A LOOK AT THE PENGUINS:
Dominican (CA) has struggled early in the season and is off to a 1-7 start. Last week, the Penguins went winless in four contests at the Sonoma State Seawolf Spike tournament. This will be the first home match of the season for DU. Amanda Wasko leads the team with 2.44 kills per set. Rebecca Schira and Kelsey Lardner are splitting duties at setter and averaging 7.76 and 8.50 assists per set, respectively.

A LOOK AT THE URBAN KNIGHTS:
The Urban Knights come into the weekend at 4-4. They split their four matches last week at the Sonoma State Seawolf Spike, falling to two CCAA teams and defeating two GNAC teams. Melissa Brum and Emily Papale lead AAU in kills with 2.90 and 2.84 per set, respectively. Rachael Smith is the fifth in the conference with 10.38 assists per set.

A LOOK AT THE HAWKS:
Holy Names is still looking for its first win of the season as starting the year 0-8. In its last match it pushed Humboldt State to five sets before falling. Rachel Vartanian is pacing the Hawks with 2.96 kills and Alexandra Ramos with 5.24 assists.