Southbound. After capping a six-match homestand with a couple of convincing victories, the 20th-ranked Seattle Pacific University volleyball team returns to the road this week. Great Northwest Athletic Conference play continues down south for the Falcons (1-0 GNAC, 7-3) as they visit Western Oregon (1-1 , 3-7) Thursday night (Sept. 15) and Humboldt State (1-1, 5-5) Saturday (Sept. 17). They return home the following week for a pair of conference contests, beginning Sept. 22 against Alaska Anchorage.

Off and running. For the first time in five seasons Seattle Pacific got off to a running start in the conference, thanks to a three-game home sweep of Northwest Nazarene. That, combined with an earlier sweep of Chaminade, pushed the Falcons up four spots to No. 20 among NCAA Division II teams in the AVCA coaches poll. It is the program’s highest national ranking.

My-Oh-Myers. Hard-hitting outside Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nev./Douglas) was instrumental in both victories last week as she left opponents ducking for cover from her assaults at the net. Myers came off the bench to play in the final two games against Chaminade and helped the Falcons secure the win with nine kills in 18 attempts (zero errors). She followed that up with a match-high 14 kills against Northwest Nazarene. Myers had a combined 23 kills in the two matches and recorded a .500 hitting percentage while committing just two errors. She raised her season hitting averaged from .192 to .269, which now ranks fifth in the conference. Myers also ranks sixth in the GNAC in both kills (3.53) and points (4.11), and 13th in blocks (0.79).

Last week’s results:
SPU def. Chaminade 30-28, 30-27, 30-19
SPU def. Northwest Nazarene 30-16, 30-26, 30-17

Balanced attack. Much of Seattle Pacific’s early offensive success can be attributed to its balance. Five players rank among the top 18 in the GNAC in both kills and points per game. SPU is the only team in the league with more than three in the top 20 of each category. Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) is fifth in both kills (3.54) and points (4.34), just ahead of Myers. Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) ranks ninth in points (3.73) and 14th in kills (2.74), Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) is 13th in points (3.48) and 15th in kills (2.72), and Shelby Gihring (Jr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) is 17th in points (3.13) and 18th in kills (2.47).

Gritty play. The Falcons’ relentless defense was instrumental in both victories last week. While Seattle Pacific hit .238 as a team, Chaminade and Northwest Nazarene were a collectively cold .095. NNU to managed to hit just .069 . The Falcons also had a 115-97 advantage in digs and a 25-12 advantage in blocks. SPU, which also forced a total of 45 opponent errors, tops the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.143).

Stepping up. SPU’s defensive numbers last week were even more impressive considering that Ralph, the league leader in that department last season, missed both matches after suffering a dislocated thumb during practice. Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) and Whitney Dibble (Jr., 6-1, Reno, Nev./Galena) filled in with strong if not spectacular defensive performances at the net, combining for more than half of the team’s blocks. Dibble recorded 14 block assists, averaging over two per game, and Biornstad had 10. SPU leads the GNAC with just under three blocks per game and has five players that rank in the top 16 individually. Ralph and Biornstad are tied for second with 1.14 per game. Wodrich is fourth with 1.09. Dibble is averaging 1.79, but has not met league minimum playing requirements to qualify for the leader board.

Quick sets. SPU has not started the conference season with three straight wins since 2000, when it eventually went 17-1 in the old PacWest...Setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) ranks third in the GNAC, averaging 11.77 assists per game. She is 16th in blocks (0.77), 17th in aces (0.40) and 19th in digs (2.6)...SPU has three other players amongst the GNAC aces leaders with Given at fifth (0.57), Gihring at 13th (0.47) and Wodrich at 17th (0.40) ...Torii Mount (Fr., 5-2, Gresham, Or.) is third in digs (4.91), followed by Wodrich at ninth (3.23)...Seattle Pacific leads the league at 2.97 blocks per game, and ranks second in digs (17.63)...Offensively, the Falcons are second in kills per game (14.80) and assists (13.51), third in hitting percentage (.196) and fourth in aces (2.09)...Once again the Pacific Region is getting plenty of respect nationally. Eight of the top 25 teams hail from the Pacific, including No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino, No. 5 Hawaii Pacific, No. 9 Central Washington, No. 12 UC San Diego, No. 16 Cal State L.A., No. 23 Chaminade and No. 25 Cal State Bakersfield. Two of the Falcons’ three losses were to nationally-ranked teams.

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.