Island-bound. There are five time zones and many, many wins separating Seattle Pacific University from its opening match of of the 2006 volleyball season and where the Falcons hope to finish in November. For the first time in the SPU program’s 21-year existence, players and coaches are thinking big. The opening four matches of a potential dream season will take place on the Big Island of Hawaii. There, 18th-ranked Seattle Pacific will face No. 21 BYU Hawaii, Chaminade, No. 13 Hawaii Pacific and host Hawaii Hilo in the Hawaiian Style Classic between Thursday (Aug. 24) and Saturday (Aug. 26). The home opener is an Aug. 29 matinee with Hawaii Pacific.

Not a surprise. A year after catching nearly everyone by surprise, the Falcons have assumed a frontrunner position. They are a near-unanimous choice to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, and have been ranked in the NCAA Division II preseason coaches poll for the first time. Second-year head coach Chris Johnson has all but one starter returning from the squad which went 22-6, earned a share of the GNAC title and returned to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Among the upset victims were the two teams which played for the NCAA championship.

Expectations raised. Seattle Pacific received eight of nine first-place votes in the conference coaches poll, a far cry from the past four years when they were pegged no higher than fourth. “Expectations have been raised, but we’re comfortable with them,” said Johnson. “We want to win our conference, our region and make the final four.” It’s a plan of grand scale, considering that the Falcons have never won a first-round playoff match. Last season they came within a single point of taking a 2-0 lead in their postseason opener with Cal State L.A., the eventual Pacific Region champion and national semifinalist.

A six-pack to go. There is not only experience but great ability in Johnson’s projected lineup. Outside hitter Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) and setter Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) are all-region and possibly All-America candidates. Given’s kill count was the second-best in the last 10 seasons and her service aces total was No. 3 all-time. Von Moos broke the season record for assists average and attacked at a healthy .285 clip. Right side hitter Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) and middle Rachel Biornstad (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) each hit for more than 200 kills as sophomores. The league’s top blocker, Whitney Dibble (Sr., 6-1, Reno, Nv./Galena), also returns to the middle and Shelby Gihiring (Sr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) compliments Given on the outside. Libero Torii Mount (So., 5-2, Gresham, Or.) smashed the season standard for digs total (534) and average (5.45).

No holes. Asked to scout his own team, Johnson doesn’t see any glaring weaknesses, and one of the strengths is that the Falcons can attack from anywhere. Given might be a go-to terminator, but she’s also an adept passer, and can open attacking avenues for other to exploit. Last year seven players totaled more than 100 kills. A heavy-hitting Gihring rotates into the starting lineup after playing behind Chelsey Myers. Defensively, SPU was the GNAC blocking leader by far (22nd nationally) and the backline was committed to keeping balls in play, finishing second in digs. From the service line, Given, Gihring and Wodrich all averaged more than 0.40 aces.

They got next. A year ago, depth played a significant part in the team’s success, and the newcomers may be capable of replenishing the talent pool. Nikki Finley (Fr., 5-9, Highlands Ranch, Co./Mountain Vista) joined the squad last spring and quickly assimilated to the system. Finley and Alexa Vondrak (Fr., 5-9, Gresham, Or.) will vie for time on the outside. Tiffany Butac (Sr., 5-2, Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) will try to reclaim the libero shirt from Mount, or see considerable time as a defensive specialist. The understudy to Von Moos is transfer Stephanie Wayt (Jr., 5-7, Anchorage, Ak./Service), a part-time starter at Lewis-Clark State. Middles Kylie Johnson (Fr., 6-0, Tucson, Az./Catalina Foothills), Jessica Bettencourt (Fr., 5-11, So. Lake Tahoe, Ca.) and Robin DeJong (Fr., 5-10, Goleta, Ca./Dos Pueblos) figure to contend for jobs by the second half of the campaign.

Quick sets. SPU was 19-3 when winning the first game last season...In its first season under Johnson, Seattle Pacific raised it hitting average by 45 points, from .182 to .227 and led the conference. The opponents’ .135 attack percentage was a record low...Ranked 17th nationally, Central Washington got the other first-place vote in the GNAC poll and finished No. 2, ahead of Western Washington and Seattle University, who tied for third...The first of 16 GNAC matches is Sept. 7 at Alaska Anchorage. Humboldt State departed to the CCAA and will be replaced by Montana State Billings in 2007...Fourteen of the first 18 matches will be on the road, however the players will not miss a single class since fall quarter begins Sept. 25...The compacted season ends one week earlier than usual due to the NCAA Fall Sports Festival, Nov. 16-18 in Pensacola, Florida...SPU was among nine Pacific Region teams in the CSTV/AVCA preseason top 25. Cal State L.A. is No. 6, Cal State San Bernardino No. 12, Cal Poly Pomona No. 14, UC San Diego No. 19 and Cal State Bakersfield No. 22. Defending champion Grand Valley State is No. 1... Johnson’s staff features two new aides. Gretchen Killebrew, an all-Pac-10 setter at Washington, was the Bellevue Community College head coach a year ago. Johnny Lai was an assistant at BCC for the past three years...Former head coach Kellie Ryan is an assistant with UTEP (Texas-El Paso) this season...Five of last year’s losses were to playoff teams...Von Moos has a strong chance at getting the career total assists record. She needs 1004 to surpass Deri Paulson (1986-89). Von Moos had 1198 assists last year...The Falcons take a 10-match home win streak in 2006 and have won 12 straight GNAC home contests.

Tickets, please. Ticket prices for all SPU regular season home matches are $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens $3. Group and team rates are available by phoning (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 web site.