SEATTLE (Aug. 21) ­ For the first time, Seattle Pacific University is entering a volleyball season ranked among the top 25 teams in NCAA Division II.

With all but one starter returning from a team which went 22-6 and shared the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, the Falcons are No. 18 in the CSTV/AVCA coaches poll released Monday.

SPU will face No. 21 BYU Hawaii in its opening match Thursday night (10:30 p.m. PDT) in Hilo, Hawaii. The Falcons play No. 13 Hawaii Pacific in Hilo Saturday night and meet the Sea Warriors again at Brougham Pavilion in the home opener Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.

Defending NCAA champion Grand Valley State (Mich.) earned 21 of 25 first-place votes and is No. 1 in the nation. Seattle Pacific beat both Grand Valley and Nebraska-Kearney, the national runner-up, last season.

Central Washington, the defending GNAC co-champion, is ranked No. 17. A total of nine Pacific Region teams are among the top 25, topped by Cal State L.A. at No. 6.

1.        Grand Valley State (Mi.) (21) 32-6
2.        Tampa  (4)                    29-4
3.        Truman State (Mo.)            32-6
4.        Concordia (Mn.)               30-5
5.        Minnesota Duluth              27-5
6.        Cal State L.A.                28-3
7.        Washburn (Ks.)                35-3
8.        Nebraska Kearney              38-2
9.        North Alabama                 36-2
10.       Central Missouri State       26-10
11.       Florida Southern              33-4
12.       Cal State San Bernardino      21-8
13.       Hawaii Pacific                24-3
14.       Cal Poly Pomona               24-3
15.       Lock Haven (Pa.)              33-6
16.       Florida Gulf Coast            27-4
17.       Central Washington            23-5
18.       Seattle Pacific               22-6
19.       UC San Diego                  19-8
20.       Abilene Christian (Tx.)       31-4
21.       BYU Hawaii                    20-5
22.       Cal State Bakersfield         20-9
23.       Rockhurst Mo.)                29-7
24.       Nebraska Omaha                20-8
23.       Dowling (NY)                  33-9