Could this be it? After nearly pushing a nationally-ranked foe to five games a week ago, the Seattle Pacific University volleyball team gets another crack at a high-caliber combatant this weekend. Winners in four of their last six Great Northwest Athletic Conference outings, the Falcons (6-5 GNAC, 10-9) finish a three-match home stand Saturday night (Oct. 23) against 23rd-ranked Western Washington (8-3, 12-6). Next week, SPU visits Alaska for a pair of matches.

It’s about time. It’s been over three years since Seattle Pacific brought down a team ranked among the top 25 in NCAA Division II. Perhaps that’s long enough. Following five losses to such teams this season, the Falcons would seem to be ripe for pulling off an upset. A week ago they flirted with the notion of surprising undefeated and 13th-ranked Central Washington, going ahead early on and then coming close tying the match at two games apiece. Yet SPU came even closer in its initial meeting with Western Washington, pushing the Vikings to five games on their home court Sept. 24 before falling 15-13 in the decisive frame. Five of the losses this season have been to nationally-ranked teams. SPU beat No. 21 Cal State L.A. at home in 2001.

Spreading the ball around. A big part of SPU’s recent success has been the ability to use a variety of players in the attack. Coach Kellie Ryan has had the luxury of having a reserve off the bench come in and contribute right away when one of her starters has stumbled. In fact, SPU is one of just three teams in the conference to have four players averaging at least two kills per game and is one of just two schools to have four players ranked in the top 30 in the GNAC in kills per game. Myers leads the way at 18th in the conference with 2.71 kills per game. She is followed by Ralph (24th, 2.43), Bauder (26th, 2.35) and Alyssa Given (Fr., Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame), who is 27th with 2.3 kills per game.

Juniors Chelsey Myers (left) and Katie Ralph came up with several clutch plays to key the victory over Saint Martin's las week.

Season-best streaks end. Last week started well enough. The Falcons swept Saint Martin’s for a season-best three-match win streak (all by 3-0 counts). Juniors Chelsey Myers (Minden, Nv./Douglas) and Katie Ralph (Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) came up with several clutch plays to key the victory, including a comeback win in game two. Ralph finished with 11 kills and a season-high nine digs. Myers had 18 kills, her second-highest total of the season, and 13 digs. Against Central, Myers again led SPU with 18 kills and hit at a .333 clip, but it was not enough to beat the Wildcats. Jessica Bauder (Sr., Richland, Wa.) had a season-high 17 kills and a career-high 30 digs in the loss. The Falcons out-hit the visitors in the match, finishing at a .243 clip, while holding the GNAC leaders .80 below their average at .215. Myers combined for 31 kills on a .226 hitting percentage and 27 digs in the two matches.

Quick sets. Led by Ralph and Whitney Dibble (So., Reno, Nv./Galena) with 10 each, Seattle Pacific recorded 23 team blocks in its two matches last week for an average of 3.29 per game. SPU moved up to second in the GNAC with 2.37 blocks per game…Ralph is third in the GNAC in blocking with 1.15 per game. She also ranks ninth in hitting percentage (.258)…Dibble ranks 13th in the league with 0.85 blocks per game…Myers has recorded double figures in both kills and digs in nine of her last 11 matches. She has reached double figures in kills in seven straight matches and 10 of the last 11, and has recorded double figures in digs in 11 of her last 12…Sophomore setter Jenna Von Moos (Stanwood, Wa.) moved up to seventh in the GNAC with 10.07 assists per game. She also ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.305)…SPU is holding opponents to a .168 hitting percentage, fourth best in the league.

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.