THE SCHEDULE 
Thursday, Sept. 28              Seattle Pacific at Alaska Fairbanks, 8:00 p.m. PDT 
                                                The Patty Center / Fairbanks, Alaska 
                                                Live Webcast        Live stats 
 
Saturday, Sept. 30               Seattle Pacific at Alaska Anchorage, 8:00 p.m. PDT 
                                                Alaska Airlines Center / Anchorage, Alaska 
                                                Live Webcast        Live stats 
 
 
SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific Falcons are still flying high. And this week, they're also flying far for their next volleyball competition. 
 
Coming off victories against Northwest Nazarene and No. 15 Central Washington in their first two home matches of the year, the newly No. 24-ranked Falcons take to the skies for their longest trip of the year, visiting Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday in The Patty Center and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday at Alaska Airlines Center. UAA is receiving votes in this week's national coaches poll.
 
The first serve for both contests is at 8:00 p.m. Pacific time. 
 
SPU played a pair of preseason tournaments in Southern California, the first of which was in San Diego. That's 1,243 air miles and approximately 2 hours, 45 minutes of flight time. The Seattle-Fairbanks flight is 1,533 miles and 3 hours, 55 minutes. Fairbanks down to Anchorage is 261 miles and one hour. Then Anchorage back to Seattle is 1,448 miles and 3 hours, 30 minutes. 
 
FOLLOW IT LIVE 
All GNAC matches home and away will have free live Webcasts on YouTube, and free live stats. The appropriate links for this week's two matches are at the top of this story. 
 
FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2011 … RANK 'EM 
Seattle Pacific is back among the national top 25. 
 
The Falcons came in at No. 24 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, picking up 118 points in the voting. 
 
The last time they were on that elite list was Nov. 14, 2011, at No. 25 as they headed into the NCAA West Regional tournament. 
 
SPU has been on some ballots all season, steadily moving up the "Also receiving votes" list. 
 
The poll is loaded with West Region teams: six in the top 25 (No. 12 Cal State San Bernardino, No. 14 Cal Poly Pomona, No. 17 Chaminade, No. 18 Central Washington, No. 24 SPU, and No. 25 Cal State Los Angeles) and six more receiving votes (Sonoma State, Point Loma Nazarene, Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage, Biola, and Simon Fraser). 
 




SO WHAT'S THE STORY THIS WEEK? 
-- Thursday's match at Alaska Fairbanks will mark the exact midpoint – Match 13 – of Seattle Pacific's overall 26-match schedule. 
-- SPU's current nine-match winning streak is the team's longest since winning 16 straight to start the 2010 season. 
-- That's also the last time the Falcons were 4-0 in conference play. 
-- In last year's contest at UAF, the Nanooks won the first two sets, then the Falcons took the next two. In the deciding fifth. SPU got the first point, then Fairbanks ran off nine in a row for a 9-1 lead, on the way to winning it, 15-8. 
-- The last win for the Falcons in Alaska was 3-1 at Fairbanks on Nov. 21, 2019. They did not make the trip in 2020 when the season was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, then lost at both schools in 2021 and 2022. 
-- SPU's most recent win at Anchorage was Nov. 1, 2018, a 3-2 decision. 
-- The Falcons are 8-2 in out-of-town matches this season: 3-1 in true road matches, 5-1 on neutral courts. That's already one more away win than all of last season. 
-- The Falcons had won 15 consecutive sets prior to losing Set 1 to Central Washington last Saturday. It marked the third time this season they have bounced back from an opening set loss to win the match. 
-- On the other side of that equation, SPU is 7-0 when winning Set 1, and has won 14 straight when taking the first one, dating back to last season. 
-- The Falcons continue to be the top-hitting team in the GNAC at .244. They are No. 2 defensively, allowing opponents to hit just .162. 
-- They also are the top blocking team at 2.69 per set – No. 2 in all of NCAA Division II. 
-- Saturday's contest at Anchorage will feature the GNAC's top two in kills per set: Sarah Brachvogel of the Falcons at 3.37 and Nicole Blue of the Seawolves at 3.30. 
-- Those two also lead the points-per-set list: Blue at 4.06, Brachvogel at 3.91. 
-- Coach Jason Rhine is 1-1 vs. Fairbanks and 0-2 vs. Anchorage. 
 
SCOUTING THE ALASKA FAIRBANKS NANOOKS: 7-10, 0-3 GNAC (9th) 
All-time series: SPU leads, 41-18.  Current series streak: UAF won 1.  Last time: UAF 3, SPU 2 (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 19-25, 15-8; Oct. 15, 2022 at Fairbanks).  Last SPU series win: SPU 3, UAF 1 (27-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23; Sept. 15, 2022 at Seattle). Nanooks on the Web. 
Nanooks in a nutshell: After starting out 1-6, Fairbanks finished non-conference play on a nice roll, winning six of its last seven. The Nanooks got swept at Simon Fraser last Thursday, but then forced a fifth set at Western Washington last Saturday before falling short, 15-11. Karli Nielson, a junior 5-foot-11 outside hitter, is one of the leading offensive threats in the GNAC with 186 kills, an average of 3.00 per set. She hits at a .208 clip,, and she's going to swing at it: 510 attacks so far, the second-highest total in the conference. Sophomore 6-3 opposite Ella Bines (117 kills) and fifth-year 6-1 outside Lily Stewart (116) also are solid hitters at .246 and .265, respectively. Junior 5-11 outside Rilee White has delivered 25 service aces. Junior 6-2 middle Josie Jansen is the top blocker with 47, including six solo. 
 
SCOUTING THE ALASKA ANCHORAGE SEAWOLVES:  9-9, 1-2 GNAC (tie 7th) 
All-time series: UAA leads, 33-30.  Current series streak: UAA won 2  Last time: UAA 3, SPU 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-13; Oct. 13, 2022 at Anchorage).  Last SPU series win: SPU 3, UAA 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-22; Oct. 21, 2021 at Seattle).  Seawolves on the Web. 
Seawolves in a nutshell: This UAA team has a different look, as All-Amerian opposite Eve Stephens, the 2022 National Player of the Year, All-American setter Ellen Floyd, and All-GNAC outside hitter Lisa Jaunet all graduated. There also was a coaching change as Chris Green moved on, with former Seawolves standout Stacie Meisner taking charge. Senior 5-foot-11 outside hitter Nicole Blue is now the primary go-to player for Anchorage, and she is delivering in a big way. Blue has a conference-leading 218 kills, a 3.30 per-set average that is No. 2 on the GNAC list. She has more attacks than anyone in the conference (624), hits .199, and has dropped in a GNAC-leading 37 service aces. Bethany Tuchardt, a 6-2 outside / opposite, has 161 kills on .226 hitting. She also has 40 blocks. Even bigger on block is a pair of juniors, 6-0 Leilani Elder (52 total) and 6-3 isabel Evans (51). Anchorage will be looking to get back on track after falling 3-1 at Western Washington and 3-0 at Simon Fraser last week. 
 
FALCONS GARNER GNAC TEAM AWARD 
There's still a lot of volleyball to be played to determine which team is the best in the GNAC. But, at least for this past week, that best team was Seattle Pacific. 
 
The Falcons were chosen as the GNAC Team of the Week on Monday for their victories against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. The award takes into consideration team performances from across the entire GNAC fall sports spectrum: volleyball, soccer, cross country, and golf. 
 
This is the second straight week an SPU team has won. Last week, it was women's soccer for their 2-1 road victory at No. 2-ranked Colorado School of Mines. 
 
Seattle Pacific had won the volleyball weekly team honor once previously – almost exactly one year ago, on Sept. 26, 2022, after defeating Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington on the road. 
 
WHEN IT COMES TO BLOCKING, FALCONS ARE NO. 1 
Not only is Seattle Pacific the top-blocking team in the GNAC, its 2.69 per-set average ranks No. 1 in all of NCAA Division II. The No. 2 team on the national list is Central Washington at 2.66 

 

But that's not all. Leading the way for the Falcons -- and leading D2 -- is senior Hannah Hair with her per-set average of 1.56. Joining her in the GNAC top 10 are Erin Smith (No. 5 at 1.00) and Allison Wilks (No. 8 at 0.98). 

Hair's total of 64 is the most in the GNAC, one ahead of Central Washington's Emma Daoud-Hebert at 63. Hair also has the most solos with 15. Smith has 43 total, and Wilks has 42. 
 
COACH JASON RHINE SAYS … 
(On being in the national top 25) 
"It's exciting to see. But it doesn't mean much unless we make regionals -- and like you said, a lot of tough teams in the (West)  region. So hopefully, we keep winning."

 

(On last week)  
"What stands out to me is we approached both matches really well. We came in with a good balance of energy and poise and played two different styles of matches. But in both cases, I thought we performed well and our team did a great job of preparing and being ready for each match, just coming in and being ready to go."  
   
(On heading to Alaska this week)  
"In the GNAC, it's one match at a time. We're happy to come out with the wins (last week week). Now we have to turn around and take a tough trip to Alaska. We're excited to be going up there off of wins. But it's just going to be another hill of battles and some tough travel, so we're ready to face a new challenge."  
 
NATIONALLY SPEAKING 
Among the 278 volleyball program in NCAA Division II, the Falcons are: 
--No. 1 in blocking at 2.69 per set. 
--No.15 in total blocks at 115.5 (Indiana of Pennsylvania 149.0). 
--No. 23 in hitting percentage at .244 (Grand Valley State .315). 
--No. 42 in assists per set at 12.05 (Concordia-St Paul 14.17). 
--No. 43 in kills per set at 13.05 (Concordia-St. Paul 15.02). 
 
Individually: 
-- Hannah Hair No. 1 in blocks per set at 1.56. 
-- Hair No. 5 in total blocks with 64 (78). 

Click on this link to see how the Falcons rank in all Division II statistical categories. Click on this link to see how other GNAC teams and players stack up nationally.
 
MARCH TO A MILESTONE 
In the making 
100th block             Sydney Perry (has 94) 
100th dig                 Brianna Ingram (has 99) 
200th assist            Sophia Chambers (has 178) 
200th dig                Sarah Brachvogel (has 187) 
300th kill                Erin Smith (has 292) 
400th kill                Sarah Brachvogel (has 369) 
600th kill                Maddie Pruden (has 577) 
 
Made last week 
700th dig                Abigail Cunningham (has 704) 
 
AROUND THE WEST 
A week ago, home court didn't make much of a difference in the GNAC, as host teams won four matches and visiting teams won four. This week, home teams won six of the nine matches, with Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, and Simon Fraser taking both contests. WWU (3-9, 3-1 GNAC) has won three in a row after an 0-9 start and is tied for second place with Simon Fraser (8-4, 3-1), which also has won three straight. Those two meet on Saturday in Burnaby, B.C. Also part of the 8-4 crowd are Saint Martin's (2-1 GNAC) and Central Washington (2-2). 
 
Cal Poly Pomona (11-1, 4-0), riding an overall eight-match winning streak, is alone atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Then it's a five-way tie for second place at 3-1 among Cal State San Bernardino (10-2 overall), Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills (both 8-3), San Francisco State (7-5) and Cal State Los Angeles (5-7). That five-way deadlock likely will get dissolved at least somewhat, as four of this week's matches involve those five teams. 
 
Chaminade (13-2, 2-2) had won it first 12 matches before dropping two of its three Pacific West Conference contests at home last week. So now, instead of being atop the standings, the Silverswords are tied for fifth. Tied for first are Biola (9-3, 5-0, sis straight wins) and Point Loma Nazarene (8-4, 5-0, five straight wins). Right on their heels are Azusa Pacific (7-6, 4-1) and Concordia Irvine (7-5, 3-1). Those two could shake things up a bit this week, as Concordia visits Biola on Thursday and hosts Point Loma on Saturday. Biola travels to Azusa on Saturday.

AROUND THE GNAC
Click on this link for the latest news, notes, results, and stats from around the Great Northwest Atlhetic Conference.
 
UP NEXT 
Upon returning from Alaska, the Falcons get to spend two full weeks at home. That starts with two matches next week, as Western Washington visits Brougham Pavilion on Thursday, Oct 5, at 7:00 p.m., and Simon Fraser comes in on Saturday the 7th at 2:00 p.m. 
 
 
GNAC STANDINGS 
                                                    GNAC              Overall 
Seattle Pacific          4-0        10-2 
Simon Fraser             3-1         8-4 
Western Washington       3-1         3-9 
Saint Martin's           2-1         8-4 
Central Washington       2-2         8-4 
Northwest Nazarene       2-2         6-6 
Western Oregon           1-2         7-4 
Alaska Anchorage         1-2         9-9 
Alaska Fairbanks         1-2         7-10 
Montana State Billings   0-4         2-12