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SPU Volleyball Posts Best Year Ever at 24-3
Von Moos Makes All-America; Numerous Records Broken
December 23, 2006

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The best previous won-loss record was 24-6 (.800) in 2000, with the fewest losses (6) in 1999, ‘00 and ‘05...Given led the GNAC in kills and total points (5.16). She was 22nd nationally in kills. Von Moos was the league leader in assists. Wodrich was No. 3 in aces and Butac third in digs (5.02). Biornstad was fifth in blocks (1.09) and sixth in hitting (.264). Gihring finished No. 7 in kills (3.24)…The Falcons led the conference in kills (15.98) and opponent hitting percentage (.114). They were No. 2 in offensive hitting (.220)...SPU had a season-high 12 reception errors in the playoff loss to Chico State and its .149 attack average was third-lowest of the season. Gihring and Given each had 17 kills and Dibble six blocks, including a stuff. The Wildcats were the second opponent to extend a match to five games during the season...Next year’s tentative schedule begins where ‘06 ended, in San Bernardino. Seattle Pacific will face Cal State San Bernardino, UC San Diego and likely Southwest Minnesota State and Regis (Co.) in a tournament. The following week will be a homecoming of sorts for Given at Seaside, Calif. The Falcons will be pitted against defending NCAA champion Tampa, Notre Dame de Namur (Ca.), Lees-McRae (NC) and host Cal State Monterey Bay. The GNAC schedule reverts back to 18 matches with the addition of Montana State Billings...Given enters her final season at No. 4 in career kills (993) and service aces, needing 256 and 24, respectively, for those records...Von Moos was also No. 3 in career hitting (.288). Given’s 425 kills was 50 shy of Teramae’s mark. Wodrich’s 51 aces was eight below the record of 59. Butac’s season average for digs rates No. 2, behind Mount’s ‘05 clip.

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Closer & closer still. Once a program approaches the top echelon, progress is more incremental and less sensational. Certainly the Seattle Pacific University volleyball team is on the verge of a breakthrough as attention turns to the 2007 season. The Falcons (24-3) have won back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference crowns, finished among the top 20 and won 83 percent of their matches the past two seasons. With four starters returning, the hope is to continue climbing the ladder and making some noise in the NCAA tournament.

Nearly did it. If anything, the Falcons proved this season that they are for real. They began as GNAC frontrunners and lived up to the billing, winning all 16 conference contests. And three games into their first-round playoff, they looked like viable contenders for the regional championship. At that point, a more experienced and battle-hardened Chico State stood firm. The Wildcats pulled away from an 11-all tie in the fourth game and never trailed in the deciding fifth frame to eliminate SPU. In fact, the CCAA teams swept all four first-round meetings with GNAC and Pacific West Conference foes. UC San Diego emerged as winner, defeating host Cal State San Bernardino.

Best year yet. It was the best season in the 21-year history of the SPU program, and there are numbers to prove it. For the second year in a row, Coach Chris Johnson’s squad finished ranked 18th nationally after rising as high as No. 12. Furthermore, they won a record 88.9 percent of their matches, setting a standard for fewest losses (3) as well. The Falcons take a record 20-match home win streak and 18 straight regular season wins into ‘07. In Johnson’s two seasons, they have won 45 of 54 matches. Of the nine losses, eight have been to nationally-ranked opposition.

Going out on top. While the top team prizes remained elusive, the Falcons are proud to have their second All-American. Record-setting setter Jenna Von Moos (Sr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) was voted to the AVCA third team. Von Moos, who had earlier been named the GNAC player of the year and an all-region selection, finished seventh nationally in assists (13.09), breaking SPU records for season average and career total. Seattle Pacific’s only previous All-American was Nami Teramae in 1995.

It’s a Given. Receiving honorable mention in the All-America balloting by the AVCA was outside hitter Alyssa Given (Jr., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame). Establishing new standards for kills in a single match and the conference leader in kills and points, Given had also been first team all-region. It’s only the second time that two SPU players have earned that honor in the same season. In addition, Given made the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VIII first team. She is a nursing major with a 3.80 grade point average.

And a banner new year? Johnson has a unit capable of taking the next step in the progression toward becoming a national power, provided that he can find a couple key recruits, including a setter. That playmaker certainly has an arsenal of attacking options awaiting, with a returning foursome that accounted for over 1000 kills. Given is on the left, Angie Wodrich (Jr., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) the right and in the middle is Rachel Biornstad (Jr., 6-0, Kent, Wa./Kentlake). Prepared to take on a more substantial role in the middle is Jessica Bettencourt (Fr., 5-11, South Lake Tahoe, Ca.). A first team all-conference pick, Biornstad hit a healthy .264 and averaged 1.09 blocks. Wodrich averaged 2.74 kills and set season record for srvice aces average (0.55). Also back is libero Torii Mount (So., Gresham, Or.), who won back the job late in the season.

Quite a class. The senior class featured some significant contributors who will be difficult to replace. Von Moos had started for three seasons during which the Falcons went 60-20. Outside Shelby Gihring (Sr., 5-10, Kent, Wa./Kentlake) earned honorable mention all-GNAC and was an effective compliment to Given. Whitney Dibble (Sr., Reno, Nv./Galena) led the team in blocking as a sophomore and junior before an injury hindered her final season. Tiffany Butac (Sr., 5-2, Pearl City, Hi./Hawaii Baptist) was a fixture on the back row for four years.

By the numbers. There are lots of scribbles in the record book after such a season. Given erased the single-match kills record (32) and season average (4.52), and she now leads in career (average (3.73). The old kills season average had been 4.12 Monica Herrera in 2002. In addition to getting the season assists average, Von Moos also became the career total (4009) and average (11.45) leader. Von Moos’ old season average record had been 12.22. Wodrich supplanted Given (the career leader) for season service aces average (0.55). Mount is No. 1 in career digs average (4.38) and Butac came within 18 digs of the career total mark. As a team, the Falcons averaged a record 2.07 aces.

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.

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