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A brief look around. The Seattle Pacific volleyball team gets another brief reprieve from the road this week. After traveling to 10 of their first 12 matches, the 19th-ranked Falcons (2-0, 10-2) host two Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches at Brougham Pavilion. On Thursday (Sept. 14) SPU goes for its fifth straight win, against Western Oregon (1-1, 3-9). Saturday (Sept. 16) marks a visit from co-leader and longtime nemesis Western Washington (2-0, 6-4). A string of four straight on the road starts Sept. 21 at Northwest Nazarene.

Hey nineteen. Despite winning six of seven games on the road last week, Seattle Pacific dipped one place in the NCAA Division II national rankings. The Falcons had been No. 18 in both the AVCA/CSTV preseason and first weekly coaches polls. The only two losses are against teams with a combined 17-2 record, including undefeated BYU Hawaii, now ranked 10th and recipient of a first-place vote this week. Central Washington is the only other GNAC team in the rankings, rising to 13th.

Streaks alive. Coming into the week, SPU has won 13 GNAC matches in a row and 12 straight at home. The run of conference success has been impressive, sweeping nine opponents and being extended to five games just twice. Ten of the victories at Brougham Pavilion have been via straight sets, including wins over Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo last month. SPU has also won 12 consecutive GNAC home matches, dating back to Oct. 16, 2004.

Well balanced. If opponents are finding his team tough to scout, it’s because of the plethora of weapons in coach Chris Johnson’s lineup. Last week Seattle Pacific showcased its versatility in a pair of wins over the league’s two Alaska schools, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Led by Rachel Biornstad’s (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) 25 kills, the Falcons had four players with 20 or more and five in double figures. They out-hit the Alaskans .204 to .125, and Biornstad hit .412 (17 kills, 3 errors) against the Nanooks. SPU leads the conference in kills per game (15.93) with four player in the GNAC’s top 18 individually. Biornstad is seventh in the league in blocks (1.02), 13th in hitting percentage (.229) and 18th in kills average (2.71).

Alyssa kills. The leader in the kills department has been hard-hitting outside Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame). Given has reached double figures in kills in each match this season had a combined 24 kills and 12 digs in the two wins. She leads the conference with 4.59 kills per game and ranks 11th in hitting percentage (.243) and 25th in service aces (0.32). Given’s numbers stand the test of time. Her 3.55 career kills average is currently the best in program history and she set the season record for aces in 2005.

Freebies. After enduring some service woes of their own in early season tournaments, the Falcons have taken advantage of free points from their opponents. The two Alaska schools combined for 25 service errors last week, including 16 by Anchorage. Seattle Pacific also tallied 13 service aces last week and allowed just eight.

Quick sets. SPU's two home matches this week are the team's only contests at Brougham Pavilion until October. The Falcons play 14 of their first 18 matches on the road. They will be rewarded with six of their final eight contests at home. The Falcons were 12-2 at home last season, including 10-0 in GNAC matches…Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) combined for 23 kills and 25 digs last week, including a team-high 15 kills and 13 digs against Alaska Anchorage…Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) tallied 87 assists in the two victories and remains the conference leader (12.80 per game) and third all-time at SPU (3304)…Tiffany Butac (Sr., 5-2, Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) led SPU with 30 digs and continues to climb her way up the record book as well. She is fourth all-time with 1125 digs. Butac needs 68 to reach No. 3…The Falcons boast both the second best hitting offense (.217) and defense (.127) in the conference. SPU also ranks fourth in blocks (2.01)...Seattle Pacific ranked 16th in NCAA service aces prior to last week. Von Moos was seventh in assists and Given 14th in kills...

SPU coaches. Chris Johnson took the Falcons to their first conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth in his inaugural season as head coach, and was voted GNAC co-coach of the year. Johnson was the team’s top assistant in 2004, and earlier served as an assistant at NAIA powerhouse Westmont from 2001-03. A native of Bellevue and graduate of Interlake High School, Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in art from Westmont in 2002. He played a total of five years at the collegiate club level, including three at Westmont. 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.

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.