Home remedy. After suffering consecutive conference losses for the first time in nearly two years, the 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific University volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of Brougham Pavilion for its next four matches with the hopes of staying in the thick of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II postseason races. The Falcons (5-2, 11-5) face winless Saint Martin’s (0-7, 0-13) Thursday night (Oct. 6), then finish the first half of league play against GNAC leader Seattle University (7-0, 9-8) Saturday night (Oct. 8). The home stand resumes next week versus Humboldt State and Western Oregon.

Let’s do it again. The last time SPU dropped back-to-back matches this season, they bounced back quickly, reeling off six straight wins. Coach Chris Johnson is hoping for more of the same this week. The Falcons were beaten by No. 11 Central Washington and perennial postseason contender Western Washington on the road and are now two wins behind Seattle U. in the GNAC. Swept for just the second time at Ellensburg, Seattle Pacific stayed with the Wildcats in the first half of each game. At Bellingham, SPU threatened to level the match in Game 2, but Western Washington fought off two game points and held on, 32-30, to build a 2-0 lead that proved too much to overcome.

Last week’s results:
Central Washington def. SPU 30-21, 30-26, 30-25
Western Washington def. SPU 30-23, 32-30, 21-30, 30-26

Broom goes both ways. Nine of the first 16 matches have been decided decisively in three games. The Falcons have sent their fans home early in each of the last four home matches, sweeping Chaminade, Northwest Nazarene, Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks in succession. In GNAC play, SPU has won six straight at home, dating back to last season, and the last five of those victories have been sweeps.

Defense exposed. Both Central and Western were able to find ways around the Falcons’ staunch defense. SPU hit a combined .195 in the two outings–just .020 points below its average–but the ‘Cats and Vikings attacked at a .235 clip, nearly .090 points higher than the opponent average during the first 14 matches. The Falcons trailed 191-163 in digs but maintained a solid edge in blocks, 19.5-11.

Force in the middle. Middle blocker Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) has continued to elevate her game as the season has progressed and is finding ways to contribute in all aspects of the game. Biornstad led the Falcons with 25 kills in last week’s two matches on a .303 hitting percentage. She also had seven blocks, and moved up to No. 8 in GNAC blocking with an average of 1.00 per game.

All-around game. Setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) has been an integral part of the team, offering much more than just an ability to run the offense. Von Moos had 12 kills and led SPU with a .417 hitting percentage last week. She also had 78 assists, 32 digs and five blocks in the two losses. Von Moos is hitting .308 for the season and ranks second in GNAC assists (11.68), 14th in blocks (0.75) and 16th in digs (2.93).

Quick sets. Seattle Pacific enters the week tied for third place in the GNAC with Western Washington. Central Washington is one loss behind Seattle U...The Falcons fell two spots to No. 18 in the national poll, the seventh-highest ranked team in the Pacific Region, which has eight postseason berths...SPU has suffered more than two straight losses in GNAC action just once, losing four in a row in 2002...The Falcons lead the GNAC in blocks (2.79), rank second in digs (18.52) and third in hitting percentage (.214)...Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame), who had 24 kills last week, has hit 10 or more kills in nine straight matches. Given ranks fourth in GNAC kills (3.93) and service aces (0.55), third in points (4.68), 15th in hitting percentage (.233) and 19th in digs (2.62)...Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nv./Douglas) is eighth in kills (2.92), 11th in points (3.48), 16th in hitting percentage (.214) and 17th in blocks (0.72)...Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) ranks 12th in digs (3.2) and 16th in kills (2.62)...Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap), who is working her way back into form after missing four matches while recovering from a dislocated thumb, totaled 10 blocks last week, including a season-high eight at Central. Ralph is second in blocks (1.17), 16th in points (3.07) and 23rd in kills (2.32). Torii Mount (Fr., 5-2, Gresham, Or.) is third in the league with 5.14 digs per game. She sprawled for a season-high 30 at Western.

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.