In pretty good shape. As rebuilding projects go, the Seattle Pacific University volleyball program finds itself in pretty good shape as it addresses the needs for 2002 and beyond. The Falcons, coming off their fourth straight 20-win season at 20-8 and second trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs in as many years, must replace four starters, including two all-conference performers, next season. They concluded the year by falling in the first round of the Pacific Regional to defending national champion Hawaii Pacific in four games Nov. 15.

End of an era. When the final whistle blew in that match against the Sea Warriors, it signaled the end of a most successful era for Seattle Pacific. Hard-hitting attackers Leah Wiiest (Sr., Spokane, Wa./Deer Park-Cornell) and Leilani Kamahoahoa (Sr., Canby, Or./Oregon City) will be remembered as two of the program's all-time greats, both in terms of achievements and sheer statistical numbers. Two team's other two seniors, Monica Abrahamson (Sr., Spokane, Wa./Rogers) and Lesley Kamphouse (Sr., Sumas, Wa./Nooksack Valley), were also vital contributors and starters.

Best of the West. Wiiest was voted to the all-Pacific Region team by the AVCA last month, becoming only the fourth SPU player to earn such an honor and the first since Beth Palmer in 1996. Wiiest led the Falcons in both kills (3.65) and blocks (0.84) for the second year in a row and was earlier a repeat selection to the all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference first team.

Bright future. Obviously, Coach Kellie Radloff has some big holes to fill as she plots next season's course. Radloff was pleased this season with the development of the team's younger players who will form a solid foundation. Most prominent among the returnees is outside hitter Cathleen Price (Fr., Gresham, Or./Sam Barlow), the Great Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer and freshman of the year. Price led the Falcons in attacking percentage and finished second on the team in kills, blocks and service aces. She also earned all-conference second team honors. Katy Higgins (So., Kirkland, Wa./Redmond) has emerged as one of the conference's top setters and Carri Colvin (Jr., Vancouver, Wa./Prairie) returns as a solid candidate to replace Kamahoahoa as an outstanding attacker/defender combination.

Book of numbers. Kamahoahoa, who earned all-GNAC honorable mention despite an injury-plagued campaign, will leave her nine-syllable name all over the school records. She graduates as the career leader in kills (1249) and digs (1397) and ranks No. 3 in service aces (134), No. 4 in both digs (3.60) and kills (3.22) averages and No. 5 in aces average (0.345). Her service ace average of 0.51 this season ranks No. 2 all-time. Wiiest leaves with the No. 2 career kills average (3.49) and her 376 terminations this year is No. 5 all-time. Abrahamson finishes No. 4 in career digs (1009). As for the returnees, Price already broke into the record book with seven aces in a single match (tied for No. 3) and her season average of 0.45 is No. 3. Higgins broke the record for average assists (11.85) and her total of 1268 is No. 2.

Notes of interest. Technically, SPU made progress in its playoff appearance, winning one (the first) game vs. Hawaii Pacific. A year ago it was swept by Cal State San Bernardino. Wiiest, who led the Falcons with 17 kills and 19 digs in that match, has shown an interest in competing in track & field this spring. She tested well in auditions for the high jump and javelin earlier this month. For the fourth year in a row the NCAA champion came from the SPU season schedule. Barry University, which handed the Falcons their first defeat back in August, swept two of three matches the final three rounds. UC San Diego, which upset Cal State San Bernardino in the regional final, lost in the semifinal round at nationals. Hawaii Pacific and BYU Hawaii had accounted for the previous three Div. II titles.

Quick sets. Radloff is in the midst of lining up next season's nonconference opponents. An early-season tournament in Colorado is the leading option. SPU will not host an invitational next season, but will play at a similar tournament hosted by another GNAC school where the Falcons will have a chance to play CCAA teams as well...Radloff plans to sign four to five new players when the spring national letter of intent period signing begins April 10. She wants to add two or three middles, one or two outside hitters and a setter...Radloff met last week with each of the team's returning players.

"All of them were very anxious and excited to get working on their skill development in the offseason. Many of them spent last season in the shadows of our four seniors and are anxious to make their own mark next season," Radloff said.

She expects Katy Kravitz (So., Olympia, Wa./Olympia/N. Colo.) and Yashmeen Knox (Fr., Coupeville, Wa./Coupeville) to become key players for the Falcons next season after receiving limited court time this season. After redshirting this season, Andra Taylor (Jr., Camas, Wa./Camas/Mt. Hood CC) could join Knox on the outside. Andrea Dettorre (So., Vancouver, Wa./Prairie), one of the team's best servers this season, will focus on setting and her defense...In the final GNAC statistics SPU was second in kills (14.99) and digs (17.34) and fourth in hitting (.203). Individually, Higgins was second in assists, Kamahoahoa was third in digs (3.42) and fifth in aces average and Colvin was eighth in digs (3.01). Wiiest and Price each ranked among the leaders in three categories. Wiiest was sixth in kills (3.63), and 10th in both hitting (.239) and digs (2.99) while Price was eighth in kills (3.41) and aces and 11th in hitting (.262). Incidentally, Price is the first freshman to ever lead the team in hitting percentage.