Three for the road. If there’s a path to the promised land of the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament, it begins at the doorstep of Seattle Pacific University. Winners of eight straight matches and ranked 16th in the nation, the Falcons (13-2, 19-5) control their own postseason destiny yet they must play their final three regular season matches on the road. First comes a bout with fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference title contender Seattle University (12-2, 15-10) Thursday night (Nov. 3). SPU then travels south to Saint Martin’s (1-13, 1-20) Saturday (Nov. 5). The regular season concludes Nov. 12 at Northwest Nazarene.

Vaulting to the top. With last week’s five-set home victories over Western Washington and Central Washington, Seattle Pacific moved into first place in the GNAC. More importantly, the Falcons own all tie-breaker scenarios and would capture the league championship if they and Central win their remaining contests. And with the GNAC crown goes an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. In the Pacific Region rankings Oct. 26, SPU was in a three-way tie with Western Washington and Seattle University for No. 9. Only eight teams make the postseason cut. Central Washington was No. 7. The Falcons are expected to free themselves from that pack when the newest rankings are released Wednesday (Nov. 2).

Comeback queens. Their playoff hopes on the line at home last week, the Falcons showed amazing grit in avenging their only two conference defeats. They overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to defeat Western Washington and knock the Vikings out of the GNAC race. Two nights later against Central, the Falcons dropped the first game, but stormed back to win 3-2. SPU has lost the first game of a match just six times this year and has come back to win three of those. It finished 12-2 at home this season, including 9-0 in conference.

Last week’s results:
SPU def. Western Washington 27-30, 30-28, 27-30, 30-27, 15-10
SPU def. Central Washington 22-30, 31-29, 30-16, 23-30, 15-9

Setting the tone. While Seattle Pacific has received accolades for its impressive hitting and blocking numbers, setter Jenna Von Moss (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) played an instrumental role in the victories last week. Her timely and solid decision-making kept Central and Western’s defenses guessing and provided great scoring opportunities for the Falcons. Von Moos was honored as the GNAC co-player of the week after finishing with 140 assists, 29 digs, 10 kills (on a .276 hitting percentage) and three blocks. She set a GNAC record with 76 assists in the victory over Western. It was also the third-highest single-match total in school history. During current win streak, Von Moos is averaging 13.5 assists and 3.04 digs per game, and has climbed to second in the GNAC in assists (12.29).

Multiple records fall. Von Moos wasn’t the only SPU player to rewrite the record book. Outside hitter Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) set a new record with a whopping 81 attacks against Western Washington. Libero Torii Mount (Fr., 5-2, Gresham, Or.) set a new standard with 41 digs as part of a record 134 team digs against the Vikings. Mount moved into second place for single-season digs with 464–just 14 shy of the record. Mount and Von Moos are on record-setting paces for single-season averages in digs and assists, respectively. Outside hitter Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nv./Douglas) climbed to No. 5 all-time with 873 career kills.

Quick sets. Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) hit .347 and had 32 kills last week, highlighted by a career-high 25 kills and .535 attack percentage against Western. Her 28 total points, including four blocks and an ace, was a team-high for the season...Four players had 30 or more kills, led by Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) with 35 kills, including 23 vs. Central. Given added 34 and Myers 31 in the two matches. Mount averaged 6.70 digs per game and Wodrich 4.20...SPU had not gone unbeaten in home conference matches since 2000. It has not won eight straight overall since a record-setting streak of 20 in 2000...Seattle Pacific climbed two spots in the national poll, matching its highest-ever ranking set earlier this season. It ended a four-week stay at No. 18...The Falcons lead the GNAC in kills (15.6), opponent hitting percentage (.131), digs (19.6) and blocks (2.62), and rank second in hitting percentage (.223). SPU is 19th nationally in blocks and 30th in kills...Given ranks third in the GNAC in service aces (0.57), fourth in points (4.65) and fifth in kills (3.86)...Myers is eighth in kills (3.12) and ninth in points (3.58)...Biornstad is fifth in blocks (1.08) and eighth in hitting (.259)...Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) ranks fourth in blocks (1.09) and 10th in hitting (.255)...Von Moos is second in the conference in assists (12.29), and Mount is third in the league in digs (5.52)...Mount’s digs record erases the old mark of 38, held by Heidi Gribble (1992) and Michelle Phelps (1999)...Von Moos needs 47 assists to reach the career top five and 113 to rank among the all-time top five for a season.

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.