Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 17) Making their first postseason appearance in four year, eighth-seeded Seattle Pacific gave top seed and tournament host Cal State LA an early scare and a run for its money. The Golden Eagles prevailed, however, and ended SPU’s season with a 3-1 victory in the NCAA II Pacific Region tournament Thursday night.

Seattle Pacific put the pressure on early with a victory in game one and had six chances to pull ahead 2-0 in a gut-wrenching game two, but the home side held on for a 28-30, 40-38, 30-23, 30-23 win.

The Falcons (22-6), ranked No. 16 in NCAA II under first-year head coach Chris Johnson, matched the program record for fewest losses in a season. That feat was also accomplished in both 1999 and 2000. The Golden Eagles (25-2), ranked 12th nationally advance to the semifinal round to face No. 4 seed Hawaii Pacific, who defeated No. 5 Cal State Bakersfield earlier in the evening.

”I was extremely proud of the way we played tonight,” Johnson said. “The girls played hard and executed our game plan well.”

Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) led the Falcons with 16 kills. Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nv./Douglas) added 14 kills and four block assists.

One part of SPU’s game plan was strong defense at the net to contain CSLA’s powerful and hard-hitting offense. The Falcons responded with one of their biggest strengths all season and recorded 10 blocks, along with turning away several other LA attacks.

The Golden Eagles resiliently battled through the SPU blockers and finished with 82 kills to 54 by SPU. Five Golden Eagles were in double figures behind Luana Cavalcanti’s match-high 22 kills. Tanya White added 16, Melissa Zapiain had 14, Airess Padda 13 and Andrea Richardson 12.

“They have a powerful offense, but we did a good job of doing what we set out to do,” Johnson said. “We knew we could play with them, even against their crowd in their building. The girls handled everything really well.”

In the pivotal second game, SPU jumped ahead early 12-9, but LA evened the score at 15. The Golden Eagles then captured their first lead at 19-18, but neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way. The Falcons rallied from a 25-23 deficit and were serving for game point at 29-28, but LA scored two straight points and forced SPU to fend off game point at 30-29. From there, SPU fended off four game points and CSLA five as the second frame was extended by 10 additional points.

“When you lose a game like (the second one), it is hard to get over that emotional hump,” Johnson said.

The Falcons gave their best effort, jumping ahead 12-7 in the third. Midway through, however, the Golden Eagles scored six straight points to turn a 15-11 deficit into a 17-15 lead, one that they would not surrender.

SPU’s Angie Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) had a solid all-around performance with nine kills, 17 digs and match highs in both blocks (five) and service aces (six). Falcon setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.), who did not practice all week with an illness, gave an inspirational performance with three kills and 42 assists.

Rachel Biornstad (So., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) added eight kills, six digs and four blocks in the loss.

Cal State LA hit .251 as a team. The Falcons recorded a .193 hitting percentage. The Eagles also had an 84-60 advantage in digs. SPU led 10-6 in blocks and 11-8 in aces. The Falcons committed just 20 errors, while CSLA had 34.

“(The loss) is disappointing, but I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished this year,” Johnson. “Winning the conference, making playoffs, we achieved a lot of goals. It was awesome to be a part of it.”