While top-flight competition wasn't kind to the volleyball team at this weekend's University Athletic Association Championships, a rough schedule ultimately benefited the Judges in the long run. Up against some of the best Division III competition in the country, the volleyball team capped its 2006 regular season with a sixth-place finish out of eight teams at the UAA Championships at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

But despite going 2-3 this weekend with a 19-17 mark overall this season and a 4-8 UAA record, the Judges clinched the top seed in this coming week's ECAC Division III New England tournament.

Coach Michelle Kim was extremely pleased with the Judges' seeding, especially in light of the team's pedestrian regular-season record. She attributed the high seeding to the Judges' strength of schedule.

"Getting the No. 1 seed was a great feeling, but it was shocking," Kim said.

"Our record wasn't great, but we had a very good strength of schedule. It seems like we are finally gaining some respect in the area."

After 3-0 losses to 19th-ranked New York University and 14th-ranked Emory University and an 0-2 start against the University of Chicago Friday at the UAAs, the Judges came back to beat the Maroons and then toppled Case Western Reserve University Saturday. They dropped the fifth-place game against Chicago Saturday as well.

"The competition is higher in the UAA than what we see in the region," Kim said.

"Nobody in the UAA is a cake team. The conference teaches athletes to fight for every point."

After finishing last place in the conference tournament and going 1-11 in league play in 2005, this weekend's results were a major step in the right direction for the Judges, players said.

"We hadn't [had the chance] to compete for fifth or sixth place [before]," outside hitter Katie Wrynn '08 said.

"[This weekend] was definitely a step up," captain and libero Shannon Trees '08 said.

"It's the best we've done since I've been here."

The Judges ran the table last week in winning 15 consecutive games, but lost their first eight games in the UAA championships. They were swept Friday by NYU 25-30, 24-30, 26-30 and Emory 23-30, 13-30, 14-30.

Kim attributed the team's early-tournament difficulties to a breakdown in the passing game.

"If our passing is on, the other team has to guess what our offensive strategy will be, but if not, we become predictable," she said.

Staring down a 0-2 deficit to the University of Chicago in their third match Friday after losing 24-30 and 28-30 in the first two games, the Judges fought back against the Maroons to tie the match at two games apiece.

Brandeis topped Chicago 30-26 in the third game before being pushed to the brink of elimination in the fourth, rallying for a 31-29 victory.

The Judges completed the comeback with a 15-11 win in the final game. It was the team's second victory over Chicago this season.

"It's hard to be down two games in volleyball," Wrynn said.

"It takes a lot of focus and determination to come back. We were overwhelming with our kills and aces, and got Chicago down to a point where they couldn't come back."

The Judges' rookies led the way against Chicago as middle blocker Piera Carfagno '10 tallied 19 kills, 5 blocks and 5 aces, while middle blocker Bridget McAllister '10 turned in a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Setter Violette Ruggiero '08 had a season-high 65 assists.

Kim was impressed with the team's perseverance against Chicago.

"Our players don't give up on anything," she said.

"The team played together, keeping the ball alive."

Brandeis played Case Western Saturday for the right to play in the fifth-place match and disposed of the Spartans in four games, 30-19, 29-31, 30-24, 30-27. Case Western had defeated Brandeis in each of the last two UAA championship tournaments.

In a rematch with Chicago Saturday, Brandeis came out firing in the first set, topping the Maroons 30-23.

But with revenge on their minds, the Maroons took over with a strong defensive effort as the Judges dropped the subsequent sets 22-30, 21-30 and 28-30.

The Judges will open up the ECAC tournament Wednesday at home against No. 8-seeded Framingham State College at 7 p.m.