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Here we go again. Although classes have yet to start on the Seattle Pacific University campus, the 18th-ranked volleyball team has already reached the halfway point of its season and the team is preparing to travel to its fifth state and fourth different time zone in the past month. The grueling travel schedule has not led to weary legs, however, and the Falcons (4-0, 12-2) appear primed to defend their Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship. Seattle Pacific takes a six-match win streak on the road for its next four outings, beginning Thursday night at Northwest Nazarene (2-2, 6-6). Saturday night (Sept. 23), it’s just a short trip across town to Seattle University (1-2, 10-4). Next week begins with a visit to Saint Martin’s.

Energetic and efficient. Despite the heavy travel schedule filled with long journeys across the Pacific and Southwest regions, the Falcons appear to have an extra spring in their step. Ten of the first 14 matches have been played elsewhere, yet SPU continues to out-hit opponents by staggering margins behind a highly efficient offense. In a pair of 3-0 sweeps last week over Western Oregon and Western Washington, the Falcons combined for a .248 hitting percentage while holding the opposition to a .038 clip. They did not allow Western Oregon to hit in positive figures in any of the three games and held the Wolves to -.039 for the match. Seattle Pacific leads the GNAC in opponent hitting percentage (.114) and is second in the league in hitting (.221). It also leads the league in kills per game (15.81) and ranks 17th nationally.

Cruise control. Another key factor in the team’s seemingly endless energy is the team’s ability to put teams away early. During the current six-match winning streak, the Falcons have won a total of 12 straight games and have swept opponents in three straight matches. During that stretch, SPU has held opponents to under 20 points five different times. The Falcons extended their impressive win streaks to 16 straight in league play and 15 in a row at home.

Aces wild. The Falcons recorded 17 services aces and gave away just two in their victories last week, including a 14-1 advantage in the win over Western Oregon. In their last four matches, the Falcons have tallied 30 aces, a 2.5 per game average. SPU is averaging 1.9 aces per game for the season.

Continued consistency. Outside hitter Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) continues to be a focal point everywhere on the floor with her uncanny ability to produce consistently in all aspects of the game. Last week she recorded team highs in both kills (23), points (33) and aces (seven), to go along with 21 digs and six blocks. Wodrich ranks fifth in the GNAC in both points per game (4.03) and aces per game (0.6). She also ranks eighth in kills (3.02), 12th in hitting percentage (.233), 13th in blocks (0.74) and 21st in digs (2.91).

Kills are a Given. She wears the No. 1 shirt and rightly so. Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) is the No. 1 attacking option for setter Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) and that trust is well-placed. Given leads the GNAC and ranks 29th in the nation with an average of 4.38 kills per game. She also leads the league in overall scoring, averaging 4.97. She had 18 kills last week on .306 hitting and also dug out 20 balls on defense.

Quick sets. Seattle Pacific climbed one spot in the AVCA/NCAA II national poll to 18th, equalling its best placement this season. The only other ranked GNAC team is Central Washington at No. 12. The two teams meet Sept. 30 in Ellensburg to end the first half of GNAC play…The other Pacific Region teams in the national rankings are Cal State San Bernardino (No. 7), BYU Hawaii (No. 9), UC San Diego (No. 13), Chico State (No. 14) and Cal State L.A. (No. 15)...Shelby Gihring (Sr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) had 18 kills on a .306 hitting percentage and 13 digs last week…With just five kills against Western Oregon, Given was held in single digits for the only time this season...Rachel Biornstad (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) totaled 15 kills on .361 hitting and eight blocks in the two wins. Biornstad is hitting .319 in GNAC play...Wodrich is averaging a team-high 3.54 kills, 4.58 points and 0.77 aces through the first four league matches, and is attacking at a .255 clip…Von Moos continues to lead the GNAC in assists per game (12.68) and she’s No. 9 nationally. She ranks No. 3 all-time at Seattle Pacific with 3,375 career assists…Tiffany Butac (Sr., 5-2, Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) ranks fourth all-time in digs (1,166) and needs just 26 more to move into the top three. She ranks No. 3 in the GNAC, averaging 5.51.

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.