ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- While the box score will show a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the #22-ranked Eckerd College Tritons on Saturday afternoon, the Palm Beach Atlantic University volleyball team can come away knowing that they played the Tritons tough as EC earned 25-23, 25-23, and 28-26 set victories to drop the Sailfish to 4-4 on the season.

Putting together perhaps their strongest offensive attack of the season against arguably their toughest opponent through eight games, the Sailfish have a lot to come away proud about as they get ready for a grueling stretch of the season.

PBA actually outhit the Tritons in the three-set match by totaling an impressive .365 attack percentage compared to a .328 overall attack percentage by the home-standing Tritons. The Fish posted 17 kills in each of their three sets while collecting under four hitting errors each set as well.

Three Sailfish players reached double-figures in kills on the night with junior Kristin Carroll leading the way with 12 kills and zero hitting errors while finishing with a.500 attacking percentage. Right behind Carroll’s solid performance was senior Jennifer Eldridge who tallied 11 kills (.286 attack percentage) with a team-high 14 digs for yet another double-double for the senior leader.

Also reaching double-figures was sophomore Janeen McCormick with 10 kills (.286 attack percentage) while fellow sophomore Lauren Villarreal (.250 attack percentage) also chipped in with eight kills. Liz Fugate had an efficient performance as well with seven kills in only 11 total attacks while producing no hitting errors.

Sophomore Jessica Way paced the team in the setting department with 42 assists as she continues to prove steady as a first-year full-time setter in the collegiate ranks. Following Eldridge in the digs department was freshman libero Heather Shulke was added in nine defensive digs.

Pacing the Tritons heavy-hitting attack was a match-high 16 kills from Lydee Benoit as the senior Suncoast High School in nearby Palm Beach Gardens continued her domination as she was recently named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week. Also doing damage was Ariana Chinn who nailed down 11 kills and only one hitting error for a solid .357 attack percentage.

Megan Golovkin and Bri Smith split the setting duties with 21 and 19 assists respectively while Hallie Ward and Benoit delivered with 13 and 12 digs each.

PBA returns to the court a week from today on Saturday, September 19th as they will play host to another tough SSC opponent in Barry University at 3 p.m. in the Rubin Arena.