If the Penn State women's volleyball team was a car, it would be a Lexus.

Nowhere else can you find such a relentless pursuit of perfection. Despite winning three consecutive matches this weekend at the Fairfield Invitational in Fairfield, Conn. -- all by sweep, and all without allowing an opponent more than 22 points in a single game -- the players are not totally satisfied with the No. 15 Nittany Lions' overall performance.

"There were times throughout the tournament when I think our level of play dropped off," senior libero Hillary Sexton said Saturday night after the tournament-concluding 30-19, 30-17, 30-12 pasting of the host Stags. "And we didn't play the way we are capable of playing. Coach [Russ Rose] wants us to play to the level we are capable of consistently. Overall we played well and won, but we had some lapses. He always hates to see the level of play drop for any period of time."

The win over Fairfield was the 800th in the history of the program, and its outcome was no more in doubt throughout the match than that of Nos. 798 (30-22, 30-18, 30-20 against New Hampshire Friday) and 799 (a 30-18 30-18 30-14 sweep of Seton Hall Saturday morning).

"I think we're coming together as a team, but I think there is still room for improvement," senior outside hitter Mishka Levy said. "We just need to keep going in a positive direction, keep working hard to get better."

Levy led Penn State (6-0) in the tournament with 37 kills, and added a career-high 10 blocks in the Seton Hall match. For her part, Levy said the Lions were never truly challenged in routing their three opponents.

"We had a good weekend," Levy said. "At some points, it was competitive but for the most part we were in control of the matches."

Perhaps as a result of being in such control -- or maybe just a sign of the continued improvement of some of the younger players -- freshman setter Sam Tortorello and sophomore outside hitter Syndie Nadeau saw significant increased playing time, and they delivered.

Tortorello registered 67 assists in the tournament, and continued to see more of the critical action at setter over junior incumbent Jessica Hayden.

"I'm really happy with the way she's playing," Sexton said. "She's an easy teammate, she understands, and she listens."

But while the heightened workload for Tortorello could have been predicted after she came in during the Aug. 31 win and steadied the ship en route to a come-from-behind victory, the performance of Nadeau was more of a pleasant surprise.

The St. Georges, Quebec, native tallied a career high of 12 kills in the New Hampshire match and then promptly matched that number the next night against Fairfield, sandwiching nine kills in between against Seton Hall.

"She came in and played real well, and she played consistent, which is what is most important," Levy said. "We need consistency from the outside."

"She looked great," Sexton said. "She knows the game so well. She always knew her stuff, but this summer she really polished up her game, and she's hitting balls with a lot more authority."

Nadeau peaked during the Seton Hall match, leading Penn State with nine kills along with junior Robyn Guokas.

The match against the Pirates was a peculiar one, being played at 9:30 a.m.

"It was crazy," Levy said. "I played that early back in club days, but not in college. I think when we play in the morning, if you're playing that early, it is more important for you to focus."

The Lions certainly seemed focused in Connecticut, a trend that must continue next weekend as they host the Penn State Classic at Rec Hall, taking on less-than-powerhouses Villanova, Morgan State and Army.

"Traditionally, we play top teams right off the bat," Sexton said. "I think it's really good that this year we can get some confidence in early on. It's been good to get something going here before we enter the Big Ten."

Despite the overly cynical approach to the three convincing wins this weekend, with all the downplaying and talk of not playing to full potential, Sexton said she knew the Lions were in control from start to finish.

"I don't think there ever was any doubt we'd win any of the matches," she said.