On a mission. Laced with both proven returnees and promising newcomers, the Seattle Pacific University volleyball team opens court on its 2004 season this weekend, anxious to improve on last year's 15-10 record. The campaign commences at the UC San Diego Classic Friday and Saturday (Aug. 27-28), where the Falcons face Chico State and seventh-ranked Cal State San Bernardino the first day, and No. 2 UC San Diego and Cal State L.A. the next. SPU visits Cal Poly Pomona Sept. 1 and another tournament Sept. 3-4 at Cal State Stanislaus before returning home. Great Northwest Athletic Conference begins Sept. 10 at Brougham Pavilion versus Seattle University.

Rebuilding nearly complete? This may be Year Three of Coach Kellie Ryan's rebuilding effort, but the project may be nearing completion. The Falcons improved by six wins in 2003 to post their fifth winning record in six years. Now a relatively young (just two seniors and eight freshmen and sophomores) squad which includes four returning starters may be able to grab an NCAA tournament berth in the newly-expanded bracket. Eight teams will qualify from each region, compared to six previously. Seattle Pacific qualified for the postseason in each of Ryan's first two seasons at the helm.

In addition to providing leadership, team captain Katie Ralph will be relied on for shoring up the middle for the 2004 Falcons volleyball team.

Up for the challenge. The Falcons would like to replicate last year's 7-0 start, but this year's schedule is far more difficult. Eleven of the first 13 outings are on the road, including two bouts with top-10 teams in the first three matches. It's possible that SPU could take some foes by surprise. It was picked to take sixth in the GNAC in the coaches' preseason poll. Western Washington, ranked No. 9 nationally, is the favorite, followed by Central Washington and Seattle U.

Key roles. Outside hitters Jessica Bauder (Sr., Richland, Wa./Richland-Columbia Basin CC) and Chelsey Myers (Jr., Minden, Nv./Douglas) were the team's top two attackers in terms of total kills last season. Bauder also served 52 aces while Myers tied the school's single-match record of 30 kills. In the middle, Ryan can rely upon team captain Katie Ralph (Jr., Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap), who was fourth in the GNAC in blocks (0.96) and the club's top percentage hitter (.266). Also a returning starter at middle is Whitney Dibble (So., Reno, Nv./Galena), whose 10 total blocks equalled the best single-match effort in the conference last season. Kathleen Monda (Sr., Woodinville, Wa./Woodinville-WSU) brings versatility and consistency to the right side. After sharing the setting duties as a sophomore, Jenna Von Moos (So., Stanwood, Wa.) will shoulder the entire load of coordinating the offense. Von Moos, who led the team with 546 assists, is also an adept defender. Rounding out the returnees are right side hitter Shelby Gihring (So., Kent, Wa./Kentlake) and libero Tiffany Butac (So., Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist), who averaged 2.90 digs. Liz Shuyler (Fr., Selah, Wa.), a redshirt as a freshman, is another option in the middle.

Fresh faces. Each of Ryan's offseason recruits is battling for court time. Alyssa Given (Fr., Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame), a candidate to start on the outside, could become an immediate impact player in the GNAC, says her coach. Given earned league MVP honors after her senior year. Middle Rachel Biornstad (Fr., Kent, Wa./Kentlake) was an all-Kingco selection and outside Angie Wodrich (Fr., Richland, Wa./Richland) was a two-time all-Big 9 selection.

Quick sets. Ryan said her team will focus on its first contact, allowing the Falcons to run a quick offense on occasion and involve all three hitters...In all, five Pacific Region teams are among the AVCA preseason top 25. The Pacific has produced the NCAA champion in four of the past six years...SPU never lost more than two matches in a row last season and was 9-3 at home...Last year's team finished among the GNAC leaders in both defense and serving, allowing opponents to hit only .170 and averaging 1.86 aces per game...SPU was 3-0 in neutral court matches last season but just 3-7 on the road. The Falcons were 7-0 when going ahead 2-1 and they were 5-1 in five-set matches.

SPU coaches. In her first four seasons as a head coach, Kellie Ryan has guided the Falcons to new heights. Under Ryan, SPU earned its first two trips to the NCAA tournament and established a new record for consecutive wins (20) while equaling marks for most wins (24) and fewest losses (6) in a season. She entered Œ04 with a overall mark of 68-40. Ryan, whose past collegiate experience included two years under JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner at SPU (1994-95) and one year at Syracuse, was the Falcons' starting setter from 1989-91, earning all-conference honors as a senior. She remains the SPU record-holder for service aces (142) in a career and single match assists (83). Chris Johnson, assistant for Westmont College in Santa Barbara from 2001-2003, joins the SPU staff this season. Jim Woolace returns for his fourth season as an assistant.

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.