Complete Box Score

LACEY, Wa. (Nov. 5) – Shelby Gihring had 11 kills and five block assists to help lead Seattle Pacific to an easy 3-0 sweep over Saint Martin’s in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday night at the SMU Pavilion.

The Falcons (15-2 GNAC, 21-5), ranked No. 16 in NCAA II, won their season-high 10th-straight match in dominant fashion 30-14, 30-14, 30-21. SPU also maintained a half-match lead over Central Washington, a 3-0 victor over Humboldt State. The Saints (1-15 GNAC, 1-22) lost their fifth straight match.

Gihring (Jr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake), who was the only player to record double figures in kills, recorded a .333 hitting percentage and also led all players with four service aces. Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) added nine kills and a match-high six block assists. Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) also had nine kills to go along with a team-high 15 digs.

The Falcons out-hit Saint Martin’s .321 to .017 and had a 12-4 advantage in blocks. SPU also finished with 11 service aces to just one by the Saints.

SPU setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) added five kills on .556 hitting, 32 assists and 10 digs in the victory.

Kirstin Bautista had team highs of eight kills and 17 digs to lead the Saints. Andrea Tarbet added seven kills, 10 digs and three blocks, and Keana Morrisey added seven kills.

The Falcons can clinch at least a share of the GNAC title, their first in the five-year history of the conference, with a victory in their lone remaining match next Saturday. Central Washington would share the championship with victories in its two remaining matches at Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks next week.

If that scenario occurs, Seattle Pacific owns the tie-breaker against Central Washington and would earn the GNAC automatic berth into the NCAA II tournament. Pacific Region conference champions receive automatic berths, and the remaining five spots are determined by regional rankings. SPU entered the week No. 8 in the regional poll, and Central Washington was seventh.

SPU wraps up regular season play at Northwest Nazarene in a GNAC match Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Seattle Pacific def. Saint Martin's 30-14,30-14,30-21
Seattle Pacific (21-5, 15-2 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gihring,Shelby 11-4-5; Given,Alyssa 9-2-1; Ralph,Katie 9-0-6; Wodrich,Angie 6-2-4; Von Moos,Jenna 5-1-2; Dibble,Whitney 4-1-3; Soules,Natalie 1-0-3; Mount,Torii 0-1-0; Totals 45-11-12.0. (Assists) - Von Moos,Jenna 32. (Dig leaders) - Given,Alyssa 15; Mount,Torii 10; Wodrich,Angie 10; Von Moos,Jenna 10
Saint Martin's (1-22, 1-15 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Bautista,Kirstin 8-0-0; Tarbet,Andrea 7-0-3; Morrisey,Keana 7-0-1; Hall,Lisa 1-0-0; Vulanji,Mele Fisi'i 1-0-0; Rezents,Randi-Lee 1-1-1; Matson,Wendy 0-0-1; Totals 25-1-4.0. (Assists) - Hall,Lisa 23. (Dig leaders) - Bautista,Kirstin 17; Tarbet,Andrea 10
Site: Lacey, WA (SMU Pavilion). Date: Nov 05, 2005. Attend: 129. Time: 1:21. Referees: Scott Cubberly, Walt Gogan.