UAA ousts Crusaders in Idaho

Ranked seventh in the West Region last week, the Seawolves could climb even higher in the poll this week thanks to another decisive victory over another ranked team, this one coming on the road Saturday against Northwest Nazarene.

UAA rallied from a sizeable first-set deficit to sweep the Crusaders 25-22, 25-17, 25-16 for its first victory in Nampa, Idaho, since 2001.

It was the fifth straight win -- and the fifth straight sweep -- for the Seawolves, who moved to 15-7 with their third consecutive road victory and their second over a ranked opponent. Northwest Nazarene is ranked ninth among NCAA Division II West Region teams and Seattle Pacific, the victim of a UAA sweep on Thursday, is ranked sixth.

"We're playing really well right now," UAA coach Chris Green said in a telephone interview. "Our confidence has been building with each win."

So has their status in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. UAA, picked to finish seventh in the eight-team league, sits in first place along with Seattle Pacific, both with 7-2 records. Northwest Nazarene is a game-and-a-half behind them at 6-4.

Jackie Matthisen and Cortney Lundberg combined for 27 of UAA's 44 kills and Calli Scott notched assists on 33 of those kills. Lundberg, a sophomore middle hitter, added four solo blocks and had a hand in two more to help UAA win the blocking battle, and senior libero Stacie Meisner piled up 18 digs.

"Cortney Lundberg did a great job -- she didn't have amazing stats, but she blocked like crazy and terminated on almost every swing," Green said.

Green said UAA's hitters had to be patient against a Northwest Nazarene defense that seldom lets the ball hit the floor. "(They are) a very good defensive team, very scrappy," he said.

The Crusaders were good enough to scare the Seawolves early. "We fell behind 19-13 in the first set and somehow got back," Green said.

The Seawolves won 10 of the next 12 points, a comeback that propelled them to the sweep and extended a winning streak they hope to carry into a pair of home matches this week against Central Washington on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.

"We've been doing really well on the road, joking that maybe we are a better team on the road than at home, but I hope not," Green said. "I hope we carry this into our matches (this) week."