A goal in sight. All the hard work, countless hours of practice and long road trips now come down to one volleyball match. For the time being. Undefeated over the last month, 16th-ranked Seattle Pacific University is tantalizingly close to a couple of intertwined achievements. The Falcons (15-2, 21-5) enter their final regular season match just one win away from capturing at least a share of their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship and the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division II tournament. SPU visits Northwest Nazarene (7-10, 9-16) Saturday night (Nov. 12). Tournament selections will be announced Sunday (Nov. 13) and the Pacific Regional will be Nov. 17-19 at a site to be determined.

Rush to judgment. The Falcons are roaring down the stretch toward the postseason. Their 10 consecutive wins matches the second-longest streak in program history. They are seeking a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and the third NCAA berth overall. The automatic berth is particularly appealing since Seattle Pacific stood ninth in this week’s NCAA regional rankings. Eight teams will advance to the Pacific Regional, including two conference champions and the next six best at-large teams.

Up for the challenge. It has been a challenging yet rewarding climb over the past few weeks for rookie coach Chris Johnson’s squad. The Falcons have beaten three other postseason contenders along the way, including defending GNAC champion Central Washington, perennial playoff qualifier Western Washington and, last week, the region’s No. 10 team, Seattle University, on the road. SPU started fast against the Redhawks before winning in four games. It wrapped up with a dominant performance at Saint Martin’s. The Falcons out-hit their two opponents .299 to .114, and finished with a 24-7 advantage in blocks. Given his team’s predicted fourth-place finish, Johnson must be considered a favorite for GNAC coach of the year.

Last week’s results:
SPU def. Seattle University 30-15, 30-27, 25-30, 30-25
SPU def. Saint Martin’s 30-14, 30-14, 30-21

Given powers attack. Outside hitter Alyssa Given (5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) continued her super sophomore season with another pair of big performances to help propel the postseason push. Given, a candidate for all-GNAC first team, cracked 20 kills at Seattle U. in a pivotal battle for first place. She totaled 29 kills and a .312 hitting percentage along with 20 digs and four blocks in the two victories. Given ranks fifth in the GNAC with 3.88 kills per game, third in service aces (0.55) and fourth in points (4.66).

Juggling act. Given can be found near or at the top of the kills leaders, but it is the offensive balance and variety of weapons that has caused nightmares for opponents. Last week, SPU had a total of seven players reach double figures in kills in the two wins. Shelby Gihring (Jr., Kent, Wa./Kentlake) and Katie Ralph (Sr., 6-0, Port Orchard, Wa./South Kitsap) both provided big performances in reserve roles. Gihring has been a late-match sparkplug all year. She led all players with 11 kills on a .333 hitting percentage against Saint Martin’s. Ralph, a starter the past two years but limited to spot duty after dislocating her thumb, seems to have not missed a beat and finds a way to contribute whenever she steps on the court. Ralph had 13 kills, hit at a .400 clip and finished with seven blocks. After leading the league in blocks last season, she has climbed to No. 2 on the GNAC chart this year with 1.12 blocks per game. Ralph is also fifth in hitting percentage (.268).

Quick sets. Libero Torii Mount (Fr., 5-2, Gresham, Or.) had 28 digs last week to surpass the school record with 492. Nami Teramae, the program’s only All-American, had 478 in 1995. Mount is on pace (5.41) to become the first player in SPU history to average more than five digs per game...Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nv./Douglas) recorded 12 kills last week and ranks fifth all-time at SPU with 885 in her career. She passed Nancy Best (1986-89), who had 860...Setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) needs 27 more assists to move into the top five for a single season. Von Moos should break her record (10.0) for single-season assists average by more than two per game. She’s now at 12.27. Von Moos also ranks fifth all-time in career assists, setting the stage to chase the all-time career mark next season...Given’s 50 service aces is tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. The record is 59...Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona are running 1-2 in the regional rankings. Those are also the only teams to defeat SPU at home this season. Central is in a three-way tie for No. 6. The top seed earns the right to host the tournament...Myers ranks eighth in the GNAC in kills (3.11) and ninth in points (3.57)...Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) is 10th in points (3.56) and aces (0.38)...Fellow middles Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake), 1.10, and Whitney Dibble (Jr., 6-1, Reno, Nv./Galena), 1.12, join Ralph in the chase for the GNAC individual blocks champion...Behind the strong play of those three at the net, SPU leads the GNAC with 2.68 blocks per game. The Falcons also rank first in kills (15.59) and opponent hitting percentage (.130); second in hitting percentage (.228), assists (14.22) and digs (19.38); and third in aces (1.91).

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.