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Give them an ‘A’. A month or so ago, Seattle Pacific University was recognized as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s top volleyball team in terms of academics. So far, the Falcons have passed each test on the court as well. After another flawless week, 14th-ranked SPU (12-0, 20-2) is fast closing on its second straight conference crown. A three-match home stand begins Saturday night (Oct. 21) against Saint Martin’s (1-10, 1-14). The next-to-last week of the regular season features visits from the Alaska teams to Brougham Pavilion.

Where they stand. The Falcons are already off to the best start and the highest national ranking in the program’s 21-year existence, but there are much bigger goals to reach. They have won 14 straight matches, 16 in a row at home and 23 consecutive GNAC encounters. To win the conference outright, they will likely need to win their remaining four regular season matches. Moreover, that might push them into the top four seeds of the Pacific Region for next month’s NCAA Division II tournament. SPU is seeking its fourth playoff berth and its first postseason victory.

Plenty of punch. With winning comes recognition, and both Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) and Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) received honors after posting some big numbers in four-game wins over Central Washington and Western Oregon. Von Moos averaged an astonishing 16.3 assists per game in the matches, including 73 against Central Washington. That was the third-highest total in GNAC history (No. 4 at SPU) and the most ever in a four-game match. Given was on the finishing end of many of those sets. Given pounded out 49 kills, including a school record-tying 30 at Western Oregon. That, plus three block assists, enabled her to break the single-match scoring record with 31.5. The kill count was the fourth-highest total in conference history. She also had 36 digs. Given and Von Moos shared player of the week in the conference.

Attracting national spotlight. Von Moos was further honored as the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week, becoming the first Falcon to be so honored in 12 years. Along with her 130 kills, Von Moos also totaled 18 digs, five kills and five blocks. She needs just 27 more assists to become the school’s all-time leader and 243 more to become just the third player in GNAC history to reach 4,000 for a career.

No place to hit. It's tough to score points when there seems to be no place to hit the ball, and Seattle Pacific's staunch defense was put to the test last week, especially against the league's No. 2 hitting team in Central Washington. Behind outstanding defensive play from Tiffany Butac (Sr., 5-2, Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) and Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.), the Falcons held opponents to just a .168 hitting percentage while amassing a .242 percentage on the offensive end. Butac tallied 44 digs (a 5.5 average) in the two matches. Wodrich dug 39 balls (a 5.6 average) in seven games to go along with 15 kills and four blocks. Butac moved into a tie for second place all-time in digs (1,339) and needs just 59 more for the school career record.

Numbers perspective. Given and Von Moos are chasing some formidable records, and at their current pace they will not only surpass but obliterate the existing standards. Given is averaging 4.64 kills–0.52 more than the current school mark. Von Moos is averaging 13.04 assists–0.82 more than the record she set last season. With more than a season to go, Given has climbed to No. 4 in aces and No. 5 in career kills (916). Wodrich is on record pace in services aces (0.59).

Quick sets. Rachel Biornstad (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) had 31 kills, five blocks and hit .307 last week, including 21 kills and a .378 attack clip vs. Central…Shelby Gihring (Sr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) had 27 kills and 10 digs last week…Jessica Bettencourt (Fr., 5-11, South Lake Tahoe, Ca.) had 18 kills on a .316 hitting percentage and six blocks…Seattle Pacific's 81 kills against Central Washington was a team season best. The Falcons tallied a season-best 96 digs against Western Oregon…Given leads the GNAC in kills (4.64) and total points (5.25). Von Moos is the league leader in assists (13.04)...Wodrich is No. 3 in aces (0.59) and Butac third in digs (5.76). Biornstad is fourth in blocks (1.12) and seventh in hitting (.265). Gihring is No. 8 in kills (3.08)…The Falcons lead the conference in hitting percentage (.221), opponent hitting percentage (.110) and assists (14.87)...Given’s 30 kills equaled the efforts of Monica Herrera (2002) and Chelsey Myers (2003)...The 73 assists by Von Moos was 10 short of the school record...The previous best start for the Falcons was 20-3 in 2000, when they won a record 20 straight matches...The 16 straight home wins ties a record. Central became the first visitor to take a game at the pavilion this year...In last week’s NCAA regional rankings, SPU was No. 5, trailing unbeaten Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State, UC San Diego and unbeaten BYU Hawaii. Western Washington, Cal State L.A. and Central Washington completed the top eight....GNAC teams are hitting only .096 against Seattle Pacific. Biornstad is hitting .302 and Wodrich is averaging 0.65 aces in league play...Wodrich needs six more aces to reach the top five all-time for a season.

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.