Another ranked foe. Newly nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific University will face two more big volleyball matches before concluding its six-match homestand this week. The Falcons (5-3) face 18th-ranked Chaminade (5-1) Thursday night (Sept. 8) in the final non-conference outing. Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins Saturday night (Sept. 10) against Northwest Nazarene (2-6). Four of the following six matches will be on the road, beginning Sept. 15 at Western Oregon.

Roller coaster ride. The Falcons faced a wave of emotions last weekend at the Emerald City Classic. They were successful in their home opener, an easy sweep of Chico State, and followed later that night with an upset of the nation’s top-ranked team, Nebraska Kearney. However, that momentum was halted abruptly the next day as SPU dropped a pair of matches to Pacific Region rivals Cal State L.A. and Cal Pomona. Despite those setbacks, Seattle Pacific moved into the national rankings for the first time in four years, finding a place at No. 24 in NCAA Division II. All three losses have come to undefeated teams, two of them currently ranked in the top 20.

Last week’s results:
SPU def. Chico State 34-32. 30-23, 30-17
SPU def. No. 1 Nebraska Kearney 21-30, 30-22, 30-23, 30-28
Cal State L.A. def. SPU 30-24, 30-24, 30-26
Cal Poly Pomona def. SPU 18-30, 30-24, 20-30, 30-25, 17-15

Sophomore spikers. First-year head coach Chris Johnson let his team know that many starting positions would be up for grabs with great competition in preseason workouts. A pair of SPU sophomores took advantage of that opportunity and has combined to form the core of the team’s attack. Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) and Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) have stepped in a big way as starting outside hitters. Given, who started in 11 matches last season, leads the team and ranks fifth in the GNAC with 3.38 kills per game. Given is also 11th in service aces (0.45). Wodrich was particularly instrumental in the upset of Nebraska Kearney, with a career-high 18 kills. After hitting no more than three kills in a match as a rookie, Wodrich is now averaging 2.76 per game. She’s also fourth in GNAC blocking (1.04) and eighth in digs (3.0). As a team, SPU is second with 14.59 kills per game.

Defensive juggernauts. While the offensive numbers have been impressive, the team’s defense has been the key to success thus far. Whether it’s a back row player making another heroic diving dig or the front line blockers blunting another attack, Seattle Pacific has constantly frustrated opponents by making them earn every single point. Opponents are hitting just .153 against the Falcons, the top mark in the GNAC. SPU also tops the league in the other two key defensive categories: 17.31 digs per game and 2.72 blocks per game. It’s no wonder SPU leads the GNAC as a team in blocking. Three Falcons rank in the top five individually. Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) is second among individuals, averaging 1.14 per game; Wodrich (1.04) is fourth and Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) is fifth (1.00).

Mount digs. Freshman libero Torii Mount (Fr., 5-2, Gresham, Or./Gresham) has led the staunch play of the back line. Mount averaged nearly five digs per game during the Emerald City Classic and ranks second in the GNAC with 4.83 per game. Mount has been a momentum shifter on numerous occasions, turning a seemingly sure opponent point into a scoring situation for the Falcons.

Quick sets. The victory over Nebraska Kearney was the program’s first over a No. 1-ranked team. The highest-ranked foe to fall previously was No. 9 Air Force in 1991...Seattle Pacific’s last stay in the national rankings was in 2001, rising to No. 23 following a 7-1 start...Wodrich tallied 50 kills, 50 digs and 18 blocks in four matches at the Emerald City Classic. In Saturday’s five-game loss to Cal Poly Pomona, she also set new career highs in digs (19) and blocks (8)...Given is sixth in the league in points per game (4.02) and Wodrich ranks 10th (3.59)...Ralph ranks 11th in points (3.48) and hitting percentage (.256), and 13th in kills per game (2.72)...Setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) is third in the GNAC with 11.52 assists per game, bettering her average from a year ago by nearly one per game.

SPU coaches. A new era begins as Chris Johnson—just the third coach in the program’s existence—aims to send the Falcons back to the NCAA for the first time in four seasons. Johnson was the team’s top assistant in 2004, and earlier served as an assistant at NAIA powerhouse Westmont from 2001-03. The Warriors reached the national tournament in ‘01 and ‘02. Last season at SPU, Johnson was in charge of defense and passing strategies and technique, as well as recruiting. He also guided the Falcons through the balance of the spring season following the resignation Kellie Ryan. A native of Bellevue and graduate of Interlake High School, Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in art from Westmont in 2002. He played a total of five years at the collegiate club level, including three at Westmont. Kaitlin Leck, a four-year starter who averaged more than 2.5 kills at Washington will serve as Johnson’s assistant. Leck was a two-time Pac-10 all-academic selection, and was a member of the NCAA semifinal team in ‘04.

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 Website.