Rivals clash. The Seattle Pacific University volleyball team looks to carry the momentum of a recent hot streak into the opening of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this weekend. Winners in three out of their last four matches, including two straight sweeps, the Falcons (4-4) host a familiar foe in cross-city rival Seattle University (2-6) at Brougham Pavilion on Friday night (Sept. 10). Saturday night (Sept. 11), SPU hosts Northwest Nazarene (5-1) to before hitting the road for the next three outings, beginning Sept. 17 at Central Washington. Eleven of the first 13 matches are on the road.

Endurance tested. After playing the minimum three games in each of their first four matches, the Falcons took the long road by going the full five against their next two opponents. SPU snapped a three-match losing streak by coming back from a 2-0 deficit to knock off Cal Poly Pomona 3-2. Two days later, Coach Kellie Ryan’s squad suffered a reversal of fortune, jumping to a 2-0 lead before dropping the next three games in a 3-2 loss to Saint Mary’s of Texas to open the Togo’s Warrior Classic. Later that night, SPU rebounded with a sweep of tournament host Cal State Stanislaus and blanked Florida’s Nova Southeastern to finish the tourney with a 2-1 record.

Sweet Moosic on the court. Coach Ryan has found exceptional leadership by example in the inspired play of setter Jenna Von Moos (So., Stanwood, Wa.). The offensive quarterback has not only been superb on the distribution end, she has contributed well in nearly every category. After recording a career-high five kills twice last season, Von Moos had no less than six in each of the team’s four matches last week. More impressive was her efficiency attacking the net. Von Moos hit no lower than .455 in any match and was just under .500 for the week, catapulting her to third in the conference at a .396 clip. She finished with 33 kills, 129 assists, 10 blocks and 30 digs. Von Moos was a huge part of SPU’s inspired comeback victory over Pomona with 12 kills, 28 assists, four blocks and seven digs.

Ralph ravishing at the net. SPU kills leader Katie Ralph (Jr., Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) was the main force at the net for the Falcons. The middle hitter took part in scoring points with her prowess at the net and denying the opposition space to hit. Ralph totaled 41 kills in the four matches and eclipsed double figures three times. She hit for a .333 percentage and knocked down 16 blocks.

Given her the ball. Hard-hitting freshman Alyssa Given (Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) has continued to see an increased role in the Falcon attack. After tallying eight kills in each of the first three matches last week, Given reached double figures for the first time in her young career, leading the team with 13 in the victory over Nova Southeastern. She finished with 37 kills, eight service aces and 35 digs on the week.

Defense staying strong. Seattle Pacific’s hitting numbers as a team have not skyrocketed during this current hot streak, but opponents have been finding points much harder to come by. The Falcons rank next to last in the GNAC in hitting percentage and just eighth in kills. But SPU did not allow a team to hit over .176 in any of the four matches last week and held Stanislaus to a season-best .038 percentage. The Falcons are holding the opposition to a .181 clip.

Quick sets. Kathleen Monda (Sr., Woodinville, Wa.) had 10 kills, eight assists, eight digs and two aces in the five-game victory over Cal Poly Pomona. Chelsey Myers (Jr., Minden, Nv./Douglas) chipped in nine kills and five digs...Monda followed that up with nine kills and Myers 10 in the marathon loss to Saint Mary’s... Whitney Dibble (So., Reno, Nv./Galena) had seven kills and hit .417 in the win over Stanislaus...Ralph remained eighth in hitting in the conference this week (.308)... Von Moos is seventh in assists (7.68)...SPU was 9-3 at home last season after winning its first eight in the pavilion...The win at Pomona was the fifth straight in a five-setter, dating back to the middle of last season. During Ryan’s tenure, the Falcons are now 19-5 in matches which go the distance.

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.