The Seawolves won another match Friday in California, but the Division II West Region Showcase tournament hasn't necessarily showcased the best of UAA volleyball.
Showing perhaps more toughness than greatness, the 12th-ranked Seawolves claimed a four-set victory over Dixie State for their seventh straight win.
A day after coming from behind to beat 15th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino in five sets, the Seawolves shook off a third-set loss to turn back Dixie State 25-14, 25-19, 16-25, 25-12.
The win improves UAA to 8-1, but coach Chris Green said his team hasn't been at its best in the two matches in Rohnert Park, California.
"Honestly, we haven't been playing quite at the level we were at our home tournament (last weekend)," Green said. "We're struggling a little bit with a few things, but we're definitely gritty, fighting back after being down against San Bernardino and coming back after the third set against Dixie."
[UAA knocks off 15th-ranked Coyotes in five-set thriller]
Sophomore outside hitter Leah Swiss, coming off an incredible 26-kill performance, put down a team-high 13 kills to spark UAA.
Five players posted career-bests for the Seawolves — sophomore libero Kyla Militante-Amper (30 digs and four aces), senior Morgan Hooe (five aces), freshman Diana Fa'amausili (eight block assists), junior Keala Kaio-Perez (13 digs) and sophomore Chrisalyn Johnson (seven digs, tying her career-best).
Still, the Seawolves didn't play as well as they did last weekend in four home-court victories in the SpringHill Suites Invitational, Green said.
"We saw a very, very good volleyball team in our matches at home," he said. "The thing is, when you set the bar so high at home, we want to keep progressing, keep going in the right direction. That's the irritating part."
Green said inconsistency marred UAA's most recent wins.
Against Dixie State, UAA blocked well in the first two sets. "Then in Game 3 we couldn't block a ball to save our lives," he said.
UAA played two freshmen, four sophomores, one junior and two seniors Friday. Green said the young team is experiencing ups and downs in nearly every aspects of the game — digging, passing, blocking, serving.
Case in point: The Seawolves commited 17 serving errors Thursday, but served 12 aces Friday.
"At times we're looking good but not as consistent," Green said. "They understand, they know. It's not something I really have to say. I do say it, but they know it already — that we expect to keep getting better."
UAA gets two chances to do that Saturday, when it meets 25th-ranked Cal Baptist at 9:30 a.m. ADT and host Sonoma State at 6:30 p.m. ADT. Green said both opponents are likely to be tougher than San Bernardino and Dixie State.