With eight new players, it may take awhile for the Seattle Pacific University women's volleyball team to find its footing. The question is whether they will reach that point in time for the season's opening matches, Aug. 29-30, at the Canyon Court Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Falcons, coming off their first losing record (9-16) since 1997, face Western New Mexico and host Grand Canyon the first day and both Westmont and Western New Mexico the next. Coach Kellie Ryan brings the squad back to Brougham Pavilion to host the SPU/Comfort Suites Classic Sept. 5-6. But six of the first nine matches are on the road.
Ryan is anxious to rebuild her program and contend for an NCAA Division II tournament berth. To do so this season, she must quickly mesh together four returning starters with the strongest of her four recruiting classes. The Falcons reached the playoffs each of their first two seasons under Ryan and posted four consecutive 20-win seasons before last year.
A year ago, a young SPU squad fell victim early to a grueling stretch of road matches featuring nationally ranked opposition. This year's schedule appears relatively forgiving; only three of the first six foes are coming off winning seasons. After finishing seventh in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Seattle Pacific has been picked to take sixth this season. Western Washington, the two-time defending champion and ranked No. 10 nationally, took first in the preseason coaches poll, ahead of Alaska Fairbanks. The Falcons open GNAC play Sept. 12 at Alaska Anchorage.
Most of the returning cast played supporting roles for Ryan in 2002. Among the losses were record-setting attacker Monica Herrera, the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and team MVP Carri Colvin. The most experienced member of the starting lineup is setter Katy Higgins (senior), a three-year starter who ranks No. 3 in career assists. Other returning starters are Kathleen Monda (junior), who led the team in blocking (0.91); Andrea Pennington (senior), who averaged 3.65 digs; and outside hitter Chelsey Myers (sophomore). Monda moves from the middle to the right side while Myers switches from right to left this season. Pennington will likely reprise her role as both outside and libero. Katy Kravitz (senior), Andra Taylor (senior) and Stacia Willson (junior) were regular contributors as well.
Ryan's recruiting began early -with four signings some nine months ago - and the final newcomer committing on the eve of preseason drills. Jessica Bauder (junior) and Katie Ralph (sophomore) are transfers who could earn starting positions. Bauder, a second-team junior college All-America last season, averaged 3.98 kills, 4.64 digs and 0.89 service aces as a sophomore. Ralph was among the East Tennessee season leaders in digs (2.19) and blocks (0.82) as a freshman. She also averaged 1.77 kills, 0.25 service aces and hit .164 on the attack. Among the freshmen vying for key roles are middle Whitney Dibble (freshman), a former club teammate of Myers, and Jenna Von Moos (freshman), an all-state setter. Shelby Gihring (freshman) was a member of the 4A state champion juggernaut Kentlake, which won three state titles and went a combined 79-1 in her last two seasons.
Seattle Pacific will face Western New Mexico twice in Phoenix, where temperatures can reach 90 degrees inside the gym - which lacks air conditioning. The Mustangs feature six returning starters from a team that went 19-13. SPU is a past Pacific West Conference foe of WNM, and leads the series 7-4. Grand Canyon brings back five starters from a 13-15 team. The 'Lopes have won nine of 10 previous meetings. Westmont, the sole NAIA team on this year's schedule, was 27-9 and also has five returning starters. The Warriors reached the finals of their national tournament.
In her first three seasons as a head coach, Kellie Ryan has guided the Falcons to new heights. Under Ryan, SPU earned its first two trips to the NCAA tournament and established a new record for consecutive wins (20) while equaling marks for most wins (24) and fewest losses (6) in a season.
Higgins, who is No. 1 in career assists average (10.03), needs 745 assists to become the all-time career leader. Last season she had 936. Liz Shuyler (freshman) will redshirt this season. Last year the Falcons were 3-1 in five-game matches.
Only once (1992-93) has the SPU program sustained two consecutive losing records. BYU Hawaii begins the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Seasiders are the defending NCAA champion. The Pacific Region has produced the national champion in four of the past five years.
