SEATTLE (Aug. 7) - Three of Seattle Pacific University's fall sports teams will begin preseason training Monday morning, with the first contests scheduled to begin later this month.

Men's and women's soccer will be practice twice daily at Interbay Stadium while volleyball two-a-days are underway at Brougham Pavilion.

New women's soccer coach Chuck Sekyra is bringing 29 into camp, including 19 returnees from the squad which went 13-4-2 and won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference crown a year ago. The Falcons' first game is Aug. 28 at Cal State L.A.

Cliff McCrath has also invited 29 to the preseason sessions. His program aims to improve on an 11-6-2 mark and return to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in three years. SPU plays an exhibition match at Washington Aug. 23 before opening regular season play Aug. 30 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

A relatively young group-six freshmen and two sophomores-awaits Kellie Ryan on the volleyball court. Seattle Pacific hopes to bounce back from a 9-16 mark after making the NCAA tournament the previous two seasons.

Cross country, under coach Doris Heritage, begins formal training later this month. The first meet is Aug. 30 in Bellingham, although the full team is not expected to be in place before the Sept. 6 Emerald City Open at Woodland Park.

The first home athletic event is Sept. 5 when volleyball hosts the SPU/Comfort Suites Classic.