Complete 2006 Schedule

SEATTLE (June 23) There's a distinct Hawaiian flavor to the start of the Seattle Pacific University volleyball season in 2006 as the Falcons face islanders in the first six matches.

The campaign opens Aug. 24-26 in Hilo with the Hawaiian Style Classic and bouts with BYU Hawaii, Chaminade, host Hawaii Hilo and Hawaii Pacific. Both HYUH and HPU made the NCAA Division II tournament, along with SPU, last season.

The Falcons' first home matches are rematches with Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo, Aug. 29 and 30. From Oct. 5-26, six of seven matches will be in Brougham Pavilion.

Due to the NCAA Fall Sports Festival, it will be a compacted regular season, ending one week earlier than usual. Altogether, there will be 10 matches in the season's first 10 days.

Seattle Pacific opens defense of its co-championship in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at Alaska Anchorage Sept. 7 and concludes it Nov. 2 at Western Washington. Senior Night is Oct. 26 versus Alaska Fairbanks.

In his second year at the helm, Chris Johnson has six starters back, including all-GNAC selections Alyssa Given and Jenna Von Moos. SPU finished 22-6 and made its first postseason appearance in four years during Johnson's first season as coach.