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Reaching greater heights. Following another perfect week, the 15th-ranked Seattle Pacific University volleyball team continues to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Having already attained the program’s highest national ranking, the Falcons are determined to back that by progressing beyond the first round of next month’s NCAA Division II tournament. But first things first. SPU (10-0, 18-2) can take another stride toward its second straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title Thursday night (Oct. 12) when it concludes a three-match home stand against No. 21 Central Washington (6-3, 15-4). On Saturday (Oct. 14) there’s a road trip to Western Oregon (4-5, 6-13). Another home stand begins Oct. 21 versus Saint Martin’s.

Seeking respect. Despite extending their win streak to 12 matches overall, 15 at home and 21 in the GNAC, the Falcons have not found much traction toward climbing the national and regional rankings. A major factor is that the Pacific Region has historically been the toughest at the Div. II level. Seattle Pacific was fifth in the initial NCAA regional poll of Sept. 27. Cal State San Bernardino, one of two undefeated Pacific teams, is No. 3 in the nation. BYU Hawaii, which defeated SPU earlier this season, is also unbeaten and No. 9. Chico State is No. 13, UC San Diego No. 14 and Cal State L.A. 18th. The top eight teams in the region make the playoffs.

Flawless at home. As part of their 15-match home win streak, the Falcons have put together a perfect 6-0 record at Brougham Pavilion this season, dominating all the way. All six matches have been sweeps. Last week against Northwest Nazarene and Seattle University, SPU out-hit its opponents .212 to .049. At Brougham, SPU is hitting .253 this season and averaging 3.11 service aces per game, led by the .294 hitting and 1.22 aces of Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.). Four of the final regular season matches are at home.

Thing of the past. Once the biggest thorn in Coach Chris Johnson’s side, the service portion of the Falcons’ game is now a strength. Recovering from some early season woes (1.8 service aces and 3.7 service errors per game in the first 11 matches), Seattle Pacific has since averaged 3.0 aces and just two errors per game. In seven of the last nine matches, the Falcons have kept service errors in single digits and have committed just six total in the last four. Furthermore, opponents have totaled just six aces in the past four matches and have been held to one or less in five of the last eight matches. In its two victories last week, SPU held a 22-3 advantage in service winners. For the season, the Falcons have tallied more than twice as many aces as opponents (151-72). Wodrich has been the driving force at the service line. She is averaging nearly one ace per game over the last nine outings, highlighted by six aces in the victory over Northwest Nazarene.

D’fence. Credit for the opposition’s anemic hitting percentage last week can go to the defense, both at the net and along the back stripe. Tiffany Butac (Sr., Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) dug out 37 balls and Rachel Biornstad (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) blocked nine down for points at the net, including a stuff versus NNU. Biornstad has averaged 1.69 blocks while hitting .341 offensively over the last four matches. One of the Falcons’ outright offensive forces, Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame), has lended her hand on defense. Given has had 10 or more digs in four of the last five matches. She led the squad with 26 kills last week–17 coming against the Redhawks.

Quick sets. The GNAC race may not be decided until the final match at Western Washington Nov. 4. The Vikings beat Central for a second time last week and have just a lone loss to SPU Sept. 16...The last home GNAC loss was to Central Washington on Oct. 16, 2004....Johnson is 17-2 at home over his tenure, including wins over three nationally-ranked visitors...Given’s nine kills against Northwest Nazarene marked just the second time this season that Given has not recorded double figures in kills…Wodrich finished with 15 kills, 23 digs and nine aces last week…Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) had 10 kills, 72 assists, 13 digs, four blocks and hit .400…Biornstad added 13 kills and nine blocks to go along with a .312 hitting percentage…Given leads the league and ranks 20th nationally in kills (4.5)…Von Moos is the GNAC leader and ranks 10th in the nation in assists (12.7)…SPU ranks 15th nationally in kills (14.5) and 19th in kills (15.7)…The Falcons lead the conference in kills, hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage and assists.

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.