In an exciting five-game match to open the conference season, Seattle Pacific University jumped on top in the fifth game and slipped by Seattle University, 3-2 (27-30, 30-26, 31-29, 30-21, 15-6) Thursday night in volleyball action at Royal Brougham Pavilion.
Four players reached double figures in kills for , led by Nikole Thompson’s () 12 kills and 16 digs. Libby Graff (, ) earned 11 kills and four blocks, while Emily Powell () earned 11 kills and a team-high seven blocks.
Setter Jamie Mellies () ran the offense for SU, earning 45 assists, three service aces, 18 digs, and four blocks. Jessica Gunderson () came off the bench to contribute ten kills for the Redhawks. The defensive specialists kept in the match, as Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, ) led the way with 27 digs, with Shelly Anderson (, ) earning 15 digs and three service aces and Donnelle Nicaise () contributing 12 digs.
Josie Christiansen (Coquille, ) added four kills, two service aces, and five total blocks, including two solo blocks. allowed only one service ace by SPU and forced the Falcons into 14 service errors, while the Redhawks earned nine service aces and 12 total team blocks during the match.
As in the previous two games, one team took the early advantage in game five, as Seattle Pacific scored the first five points of the deciding game. The combination of SPU kills and blocks led to the eventual victory by the home team, 15-6 in the fifth game.
took game one by gaining the early lead and holding on as Seattle Pacific made a late comeback, winning three consecutive points before the Redhawks finally converted on game point with a Mellies kill.
The Redhawks took the early lead in game two, but Seattle Pacific came roaring back, scoring seven consecutive points to take a 21-18 lead and force an SU timeout. Although stopped the run, the Falcons continued pressuring the Redhawk defense, earning 18 kills with only five errors in winning the second game, 30-26.
Seattle Pacific carried the momentum into game three, scoring 11 of the first 12 points after the intermission. chipped away at the Falcon lead, going on a 15-3 run midway through the game. The Redhawks tied the game at 21-21, but Seattle Pacific recovered to establish a small cushion. tied it again late in the game, but the Falcons were able to pull out a 31-29 victory to take a 2-1 lead in games.
Game four was the opposite of the previous game, as jumped out to the early 8-1 lead, forcing SPU to call timeout. The Falcons mounted the comeback, cutting the Redhawk advantage to 17-16 midway through the game. expanded the lead with six consecutive points, part of a 13-5 run to end game four and force the deciding fifth game.
Seattle Pacific (6-3, 1-0 GNAC) was led by Alyssa Given, who earned 22 kills, 21 digs, and four total blocks in the match. Of Rachel Biornstad’s ten blocks, five of them were solo blocks, plus she picked up nine kills and eight digs along the way. Setter Joelle Perez notched 58 assists, and libero Torii Mount led all players with 45 defensive digs.
(3-6, 0-1 GNAC) travels to , to face Northwest Nazarene Saturday, Sept. 8, beginning at 7 p.m. local time. The Redhawks return to the Thursday, Sept. 13, to take on starting at 7 p.m.