Only too happy to host. After crashing someone else's party a week ago, the Seattle Pacific University women's volleyball hosts its own tournament, the SPU/Comfort Suites Classic, this weekend, and the Falcons hope to achieve the same outcome. SPU swept all four matches at the Canyon Court Classic in Phoenix. Beginning Friday night (Sept. 5) it faces three teams from California in its final pre-conference matches. Seattle Pacific (4-0) faces unbeaten UC Davis (3-0) on the first night and on Saturday (Sept. 6) it plays both Cal State Dominguez Hills (0-3) and Cal State Stanislaus (0-0). Sixth-ranked Western Washington (3-1) plays the same teams, also at Brougham Pavilion. Next week Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches commence in Alaska.

Turnabout's what it's all about. It's understandable if Coach Kellie Ryan cannot recall the last time an SPU team started a season by winning four in a row because it's never happened before. It's also a most welcome turnabout compared to last season's 0-4 starter course. A virtually rebuilt squad dropped only four games in Phoenix and yet did so by exhibiting composure in the clutch. The Falcons came from 2-1 down to defeat host Grand Canyon in five games, and they were 5-1 in games decided by five or fewer points. A year ago they lost eight of the first nine matches and finished 9-16.

Last week's results.
Seattle Pacific def. Western New Mexico 30-22, 13-30, 30-23, 31-29
Seattle Pacific def. Grand Canyon 30-24, 28-30, 22-30, 30-20, 15-8
Seattle Pacific def. Westmont 30-24, 30-25, 24-30, 30-25
Seattle Pacific def. Western New Mexico 31-29, 30-28, 30-19

My, oh Myers. For sure, the Falcons have gotten a lift from their half-dozen newcomers, but the biggest numbers on the opening weekend came from a holdover, outside hitter Chelsey Myers (So., Minden, Nv./Douglas). In the final three matches Myers averaged 4.00 kills and 3.67 digs per game while attacking at a rate of .358. She cranked for 20 kills in the five-set win over Canyon, cinching a place on the all-tournament team and GNAC co-player of the week.

Sudden impact. Ryan's starting lineups featured three and sometimes four newcomers, with each making their mark. Freshman setter Jenna Von Moos (Fr., Stanwood, Wa.) was inserted into the starting lineup due to an injury to three-year starter Katy Higgins (Sr., Kirkland, Wa./Redmond), but then played like a veteran in orchestrating the offense. Von Moos averaged 9.25 assists, and an impressive 0.94 blocks and 0.63 service aces. She also converted 16 of 32 attacks and helped the team hit .239 overall. Transfer Jessica Bauder (Jr., Kennewick, Wa./Kennewick-Columbia Basin CC) sparked the offense on the first day, hitting for a combined 30 kills in the first two wins, and new middle Katie Ralph (So., Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap-East Tennessee St.) was a force at the net, leading the team with 14 blocks (three were stuffs) while hitting .367 and averaging 2.31 kills. Erin Donovan (Fr., Shoreline, Wa./Blanchet), playing the back row, emerged as the team leader in digs (3.80 average).

Split the difference. Ryan's biggest dilemma was finding sufficient playing time for her four middles. She elected to rest Ralph and Whitney Dibble (Fr., Reno, Nv./Galena) once each, allowing Andra Taylor (Sr., Camas, Wa./Camas-Mt. Hood CC) and Shelby Gihring (Fr., Kent, Wa./Kentlake) to see some court time. Dibble totaled four blocks, including one solo, versus Grand Canyon. Taylor swung for 10 kills in 14 attempts the next morning against Westmont and Gihring, in her most substantial outing, had six kills plus four blocks versus Western New Mexico.

Quick sets. Higgins was held out of the first day's matches due to a hip injury and then left the team for a family emergency...Serving primarily as libero, Andrea Pennington (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Bellingham-Whatcom CC) came up with 3.61 digs per game, including 17 in just three games in the second encounter with Western New Mexico...Kathleen Monda (Jr., Woodinville, Wa./Woodinville-WSU) chipped in with 26 kills (a .221 average), six aces and six blocks...The Falcons have won their last four five-set matches, dating back to last season...A year ago, the fourth win did not come until Oct. 5, the team's 14th match...Two years ago Ryan's team got off to a 7-1 start when it won a home tournament.

Tickets, please. General admission tickets for all SPU home volleyball matches are priced $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by call (206) 281-2085 in advance.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.