SEATTLE (August 17) ­ A year after being the surprise team in the West, Seattle Pacific University has been installed as the frontrunner for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball championship.

The Falcons earned eight of nine first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll. Central Washington, which shared the GNAC title with SPU last season, took one first-place vote.

Never picked higher than fourth the past four seasons, Seattle Pacific is expected to build on its 22-6 record and NCAA Division II tournament appearance in 2005. The Falcons defeated both national finalists early last year. Second-year coach Chris Johnson has all but one starter returning.

Regular season played begins Aug. 24-26 with the Hawaiian Style Classic in Hilo. The first home match is Aug. 29 versus Hawaii Pacific and GNAC action begins Sept. 7 at Alaska Anchorage.

1. Seattle Pacific (8)     87 
2. Central Washington (1)  70 
3. Seattle University      59 
tie Western Washington     59 
5. Northwest Nazarene      42 
6. Western Oregon          37 
7. Alaska Anchorage        25 
8. Alaska Fairbanks        24 
9. Saint Martin's          11

(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)