Volleyball Home Opener Includes Tourney
June 30, 2003

Complete 2003 Volleyball Schedule

SEATTLE (June 30) - A revamped Seattle Pacific University volleyball team will play host to a tournament in its home-opening weekend this fall.

In 2003 the Falcons, with at least seven new players on the roster, hope to bounce back into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third time in four years.

SPU begins the upcoming season Aug. 29-30 in Phoenix, where it will play four matches at a tourney hosted by Grand Canyon University. On the following weekend, Sept. 5-6, the Falcons host the Comfort Suites Classic in Brougham Pavilion, facing UC Davis the first night and both Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Stanislaus the following day. Western Washington and Seattle University complete the tourney field.

In all, eight of the first 11 matches are on the road, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener Sept. 19 at Alaska Anchorage.

Five of the final seven matches will be played at home.

Coach Kellie Ryan returns for her fourth season. Her four returning starters are setter Katy Higgins, middle Kathleen Monda, outside Chelsey Myers and libero/outside hitter Andrea Pennington. SPU, after NCAA tournament appearances in 2000 and '01, finished 9-16 last year.