WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic University volleyball team opened their 2009 campaign on Saturday afternoon in the Mahoney Gymnasium as they welcomed in Southeastern University. After stumbling in the first game by dropping a 25-21 defeat to the Fire, the Sailfish stormed back for three straight set victories and took home the 3-1 match victory.

The season opener for PBA and match number four for Southeastern (2-2), the Sailfish appeared to battle through some early game jitters as the Fire came out swinging to earn the 25-21 game one victory. With a revised game plan and lineup, head coach Beth Avila saw much different results in the following three games as PBA tallied 25-18 and 25-17 victories in games two and three respectively before holding off a late Southeastern rally in game four as the Fish held on for a 27-25 victory.

The Fish utilized a variety of lineups and formations as they look to find a consistent group to lead their offensive and defensive charge. Sophomore Lanae Robinson paced the Fish with 11 kills (.231 attack percentage) while also adding in five block assists. Junior Kristin Carroll, the team’s top returning hitter from 2008, continued where she left off as she also reached double-digits in kills with 10 while tallying just one attacking error for a solid .281 attack percentage.

Just behind Robinson and Carroll in the stat sheet were sophomore Lauren Villarreal and senior Jennifer Eldridge as they both totaled eight kills. Moving into a full-time hitters role this season after playing mostly libero over the past few seasons, Eldridge still maintained her solid back-row presence as well as she led all Sailfish players with 13 digs.

Sophomore setter Jessica Way put together a solid overall performance as she dished out a career high 44 assists in the victory while also chipping in with eight digs, three kills, and a pair of blocks (one solo, one assist). Freshman Heather Shulke and sophomore Maeghan Barber split the libero duties for the Fish with Shulke tallying 12 digs while Barber chipped in four digs.

As a team, the Fish connected for a .196 attacking percentage while registering 50 total kills for the four set match. Southeastern was limited to a .061 attacking percentage while committing 30 attacking errors. The Fire were led by the hitting efforts of Heather Johnson who paved the way with a game-high 13 kills (.171 attack percentage) while Erica Retzsch added in nine kills.

Five Fire players reached double-figures in digs with libero Lyndy Armstrong and Johnson leading the way with 15 kills each while setter Tara McSherley added in 14 digs. McSherley added in 31 assists in the losing effort.

The Sailfish return to action on their regular home floor in the Rubin Arena on Tuesday, September 1st as they welcome in Flagler College for a rare mid-week afternoon contest that is slated to start at 3 pm.