SEATTLE (Aug. 5) ­ Summer temperatures outside are peaking, but fall is definitely in the air around the Seattle Pacific University campus, with over 80 new and returning athletes reporting for preseason training this weekend.

Two-a-day practices for men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball commence Monday at Interbay Stadium and Brougham Pavilion, respectively. In addition, some cross country runners will arrive to begin training.

Competition begins Aug. 25 when the Falcons visit Chico State in men's soccer. Volleyball opens the following day in Michigan and the first home event is Aug. 27 with women's soccer hosting Chico State at Interbay in a rematch of last season's first-round NCAA playoff. The first cross country meet is Sept. 3 in Bellingham.

Each of the five SPU fall sports are coming off strong campaigns. Volleyball, under new coach Chris Johnson, seeks to build on its 15-11 record and has four starters back, including all-conference selections Katie Ralph and Jenna Von Moos.

Women's soccer has qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of Chuck Sekyra's two seasons at the helm. SPU finished 19-1-2 and ranked No. 9 nationally in 2004, and brings back All-Americans Shannon Lovejoy, the career scoring leader, and Michelle Everson, who set a season record with 13 assists. The Falcons have won three straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference crowns.

Cliff McCrath is in his 36th year as coach of men's soccer, which is shooting for a return to the playoffs after narrowly missing selection with a 12-3-2 mark last season. All-region midfielder Ross Vaillancourt leads the returning cast.

In cross country, Seattle Pacific is coming off its first conference championship on the men's side while the women were runners-up. Josie Lavin, the GNAC champion in '03, is back in the fold for the women, along with all-conference harriers Karin Rohde and Becky Knox. Bjorn Bostrom was all-conference and Doug Gibson the GNAC newcomer of the year for the men in '04. Doris Heritage is in her 28th year as coach of both squads.