SEATTLE (Sept. 5) ­ After winning eight of its 10 pre-conference matches, Seattle Pacific University is 18th in the CSTV/AVCA volleyball rankings for NCAA Division II.

The Falcons held their preseason position, with one of their losses coming to No. 14 BYU Hawaii . SPU opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday at Alaska Anchorage.

Defending NCAA champion Grand Valley State (Mich.) yielded the No. 1 position to Tampa, which earned 21 of 25 first-place votes.

Central Washington, the defending GNAC co-champion, is ranked No. 15. A total of seven Pacific Region teams are among the top 25, topped by Cal State San Bernardino at No. 7.

1.        Tampa                    (21)     8-0
2.        Grand Valley State (Mi.) (6)      7-1
3.        Concordia (Mn.)                   7-1
4.        Truman State (Mo.)                7-1
5.        Minnesota Duluth                  7-1
6.        Florida Southern                  6-2
7.        Cal State San Bernardino          7-0
8.        UC San Diego                      7-0
9.        Washburn (Ks.)                    7-2
10.       Central Missouri State            7-2
11.       Nebraska Kearney                  7-1
12.       Nebraska Omaha                    7-0
13.       North Alabama                     6-2
14.       BYU Hawaii                        4-0
15.       Central Washington                9-1
16.       Cal State L.A.                    5-2
17.       Rockhurst Mo.                     7-0
18.       Seattle Pacific                   8-2
19.       Florida Gulf Coast                4-2
20.       Hillsdale (Oh.)                   9-0
21.       Southwest Minnesota State         8-1
22.       Findlay (Oh.)                     7-1
23.       SIU Edwardsville                  7-2
24.       Chico State                       5-1