WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- In a back and forth affair, the Palm Beach Atlantic University and Nova  Southeastern University volleyball teams battled for five sets on Friday night before a solid Rubin Arena crowd. Despite their best efforts, the Sailfish were unable to hold back NSU who captured the fourth and fifth games to take the 3-2 victory.

Engaged in yet another close match between the two institutions after recent years have presented similar results, it was the Fish who first had to fight back to stay in contention for the match as NSU defeated PBA 25-22 in the opening game.

Trailing by as much as 16-5 in game two, the Sailfish stormed back against the Sharks and eventually tied the contest up at 19-19. It was PBA’s match from there on out as the Fish overtook the visiting Sharks by a 25-21 final tally to tie the match at one game apiece.

Both teams continued to battle in game three but again the Fish came out on top with a 25-22 victory and putting the Sharks near defeat.

That wouldn’t be the case on this night however as the Sharks re-grouped and relied on their solid front line to capture a 25-18 game four victory and a dominating 15-7 game five win.

Brittany Erickson, PBA’s best up-front option, once again produced a big night as she led all players with 16 kills while also assisting on five blocks. No other PBA player reached double-figures in kills.

Freshman Allie Warren, a product of Martin County High School, was the next in line on the kills chart with seven while chipping eight digs.

Junior Jennifer Eldridge, the team’s libero over the past two seasons, put forth one of her best collective efforts of the season as the defensive specialist garnered team-high honors with 15 digs. Freshman Jessica Way and senior Emily Ryerson each added 13 digs to lead the PBA defensive effort.

Ryerson paced the Fish from the setter position and registered 30 assists while also leading the squad with three service aces.

Now 14-5 on the season, NSU was led by four outside-hitters in double-digits for kills including a team-high 15 kills from Emily Carle. Jenerra McGruder and Christine Chubb each produced 11 kills while Mollyl Sigerich chipped in 10 kills. Carle also proved big blocking at the net as she registered seven block assists and one solo block.

NSU setter Valia Petrova, the reigning Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week, continued her solid work with 48 assists, 10 digs, and six kills. Libero specialist Kathleen Yony guided the back row efforts for NSU with 25 digs while Alison Kalish added in 18 digs.

PBA will take the remainder of the week off as they gear up for an important slate of action scheduled next week as they will travel to take on Eckerd College on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:30 pm. The Fish will then travel to Lynn University on Friday for a pair of matches followed by two more at home on Saturday.

Stay tuned to pbasailfish.com for continuing coverage of the Sailfish and their 2008 season.