Volleyball joined Seattle Pacific University’s roster of intercollegiate sports in 1986, and has emerged as a regional power over the last 11 years.

Prompted by NCAA membership criteria which requires a minimum of two men’s and women’s team sports, the SPU Intercollegiate Athletic Committee surveyed the students, faculty and surrounding community and volleyball was a popular choice. The decision to add volleyball was made on February 5, 1986, and former Whitworth College coach JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner was chosen to direct the program three months later.

Initially, the Falcons were playing members of the NAIA District 1, joining 10 other Northwest schools. In its first-ever match, played Sept. 16, 1986 at Brougham Pavilion, SPU swept Northwest College in three games, 15-3, 15-1, 15-12.

Despite being a fledgling program, Seattle Pacific improved rapidly and qualified for the district playoffs by the second season with a winning record. The Falcons again qualified for the district tournament in 1989 and ’90, advancing as far as the semifinal round in ’89.

In 1991, SPU dropped its NAIA affiliation in favor of NCAA Division II, and joined the Continental Divide Conference, the forerunner to the Pacific West Conference. In 2000, under new coach and former player Kellie Ryan, the Falcons earned their first of three NCAA postseason berths after several near-misses.

The Falcons achieved a season-ending national ranking of No. 22 in 1995, and over the last nine seasons they have averaged over 20 victories. SPU has finished third place or higher in its conference for 11 of the last 15 seasons, including Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles in 2005 and ‘06, under coach Chris Johnson. The Falcons’ final ranking of 18 the past two years are the best in program history.