Added time to prepare. With nearly a week to rest and relive the two dramatic comeback victories on its home court, the Seattle Pacific University is preparing for a showdown with a most formidable foe. The Falcons (4-4, 11-4) have just one match this week but it's a doozy as they travel north to meet Great Northwest Athletic Conference leader Western Washington (8-0, 14-1), the nation's No. 4-ranked team, Saturday night (Oct. 11). SPU remains on the road next week with matches at Humboldt State and Western Oregon.

Bumpy road. While the Falcons are unbeaten at home, they have not proven as fortunate on the road. Since winning their first four non-conference matches in Phoenix, SPU has gone 0-4 in GNAC road contests, winning just two games in the last three outings. Seattle Pacific is seeking its first win in Bellingham since 1999.

Drama queens. Although they are now 7-0 at Brougham Pavilion this season, the Falcons were twice pushed to the brink in last week's homestand. They twice fell behind 2-1 only to rally back and beat both Central Washington and Saint Martin's in five games. SPU is now 3-1 in matches that go the limit, and has won six of the last seven dating back to last year. Not since 1997 have the Falcons played three straight matches to five games, and it's been more than a decade (1992) since they won three straight five-setters.

Last week's results
Seattle Pacific def. Central Washington 24-30, 30-28, 28-30, 30-18, 15-12
Seattle Pacific def. Saint Martin's 25-30, 30-25, 30-32, 30-22, 15-10

Power surge. Chelsey Myers (So., Minden, Nv./Douglas) has been instrumental to the Falcons' recent success. In the past four matches, Myers has hit 70 kills, including a school and GNAC record-tying 30 against Central. That tied the single-match mark set last year by Monica Herrera. While that total was impressive, the 17 kills in just 33 attempts (.394 attack percentage) against Saint Martin's was just as effective. Myers is second on the team and eighth in the conference in kills at 3.70 per contest and, along with Jessica Bauder (Jr., Richland, Wa./Columbia Basin CC), has given Coach Kellie Ryan a potent 1-2 attacking punch. At home this season, Bauder and Myers average a combined 8.36 kills per game. They hit for 50 points versus Central.

The great wall. After serving primarily as a reserve for the past two seasons, Andra Taylor (Sr., Camas, Wa./Mount Hood CC) is now taking her turn as a key contributor both on the attack and the return for the Falcons. Taylor's uncanny ability to jump high and in rapid intervals makes her an effective middle. She is second on the team in blocks per game (0.89) and last week recorded four solo stuffs against Central and three with help from teammates. Her total of seven was the best for any SPU player this fall. Katie Ralph (So., Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap-East Tennessee) remains the team's leading blocker at 0.98 per contest-good for fifth in the conference. As a team, the Falcons strung together strong defensive efforts at the net this season with 11 blocks in each match. It was best totals since late August when the Falcons recorded 11 and 12 blocks in back-to-back matches.

Quick sets. Myers' 30 kills was also a pavilion record, eclipsing the 29 hit by Tanya Piatanova of Alaska Fairbanks in 1992...Bauder recorded 35 kills last week, including 20 (plus 16 digs and four aces) against Central with a much-improved .250 hitting percentage. She totaled 15 kills and 13 digs against the Saints...Setter Katy Higgins (Sr., Kirkland, Wa./Redmond) put together a solid stat line versus Saint Martin's, with 26 assists, 12 digs and four blocks in four games...Ralph had six blocks, 10 kills and hit .290 in the same match...Backline anchor and libero Andrea Pennington (Sr., Bellingham, Wa./Whatcom CC) recorded 24 digs in both matches last week (season-highs) and ranks 10th in the GNAC overall with 3.72 per game...Seattle Pacific dropped to No. 4 in GNAC team hitting (.206) and digs (18.16). It is No. 2 in service aces (2.18)...Individually, Bauder is fourth in kills average (4.00). Jenna Von Moos (Fr., Stanwood, Wa.) is seventh in assists (8.92), Ralph is eighth in hitting percentage (.271). Bauder and Von Moos rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in service aces (0.57 and 0.45).

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.