The UAA volleyball team is in bounce-back mode after a Saturday night loss in the final match of the Seawolf Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Center.
UC San Diego beat the Seawolves in four sets, 8-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20, taking advantage of a UAA offensive that sputtered after a strong first set.
The tournament was the start of a busy season-opening stretch for the Seawolves, who will play eight matches in 10 days. They’ll try to improve on their 2-2 this week at the Division II West Region Showcase in San Bernardino, California, where they will play four matches in three days.
UAA will get a stern test on Thursday. The Seawolves play twice that day, and their second match is against tournament host Cal State San Bernardino, the second-ranked Division II team in the nation.
In their Saturday night loss to UC San Diego, the Seawolves hit .143 for the match, a percentage buoyed by a .310 first-set effort. Their percentage dipped to .102 over the next three sets, including a .000 showing in the second set when they made as many hitting errors as kills to hand the momentum to San Diego.
UAA sophomore Eve Stephens provided a match-high 16 kills en route to gaining a spot on the all-tournament team, and Vanessa Hayes added 12. Ellen Floyd, a sophomore setter who also made the all-tourney team, had 32 sets and five block assists, and Kayla McGlathery furnished two solo blocks, four blocks assists, seven kills and seven digs.
Sydney Teksrta lead UC San Diego with 13 kills and 12 digs.
Regis University of Denver won the three-day, round-robin tournament with a 4-0 record that include five-set victories over UAA and San Diego. UAA, San Diego and Biola were all 2-2, and Concord University was 0-4.
Seawolf Invitational
Thursday’s result
Regis def. UAA, 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 24-26, 31-29, 15-9)
Friday’s results
UC San Diego def. Concord, 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-12)
Regis def. Biola, 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21)
UAA def. Concord, 3-0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-12)
Regis def. UC San Diego, 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 15-13)
UAA def. Biola, 4-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-13, 25-20)
Saturday’s results
Regis def. Concord, 3-0 (25-19, 25-8, 25-12)
Biola def. UC San Diego, 3-2 (25-18, 17-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-10)
Biola def. Concord, 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-12, 25-14)
UC San Diego def. UAA, 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20)
Standings
Regis 4-0
UC San Diego 2-2
UAA 2-2
Biola 2-2
Concord 0-4
All-tournament team
Silvia Basso, Regis
Caitlyn Burroway, Regis
Ellen Floyd, UAA
Sami Hover, Biola
Eve Stephens, UAA
Sydney Tekstra, UC San Diego
Most Outstanding Player: Nikki Kennedy, Regis