WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- After dropping only three sets all season coming into Saturday afternoon’s showdown with the Lynn University Fighting Knights, the Palm Beach Atlantic University volleyball team would fall three times on Saturday as they were on their way to their first loss of the 2010 season before a nice crowd at the Rubin Arena. LU fought off a late Sailfish comeback in game one to win 25-23 then took the final two sets 25-18 and 25-16.

After a solid first set of hitting .208 with only one hitting error, the Sailfish (11-1) would soon begin to have issues escaping the blocking efforts of LU’s strong front line. With six of their seven starters being seniors, the Knights (9-4) began to feel the momentum as they limited PBA to a .154 team hitting percentage in game two and a .071 hitting percentage in game three.

A big swing in the match certainly went in the visitor’s direction when PBA starting middle-blocker Lanae Robinson went down with an injury in the first-set, changing the game plan for PBA and forcing them to find other options. 
Usually dynamic with her attack, Sailfish sophomore Mariela Quesada could never quite get in a rhythm on Saturday as the usually dominant outside-hitter finished with a .021 hitting percentage. The 5’9” Costa Rican did lead the Fish with 10 kills although she also had nine hitting errors.

Junior Janeen McCormick posted the next highest results with seven kills (.333 hitting percentage) while Christina Alessi (five kills, .308) and Kristin Carroll (four kills, .250) also added solid performances.

Allie Warren led the defensive efforts once again for PBA with a team-high 18 digs while fellow junior Jessie  Kubiak and senior Jennifer Eldridge each added 14 digs.

Putting together a spectacular defensive performance on the Lynn side was Lacy Redwine, the team’s senior libero. The Texas native delivered a match-high 35 digs while souring a number of potential big kills by the Sailfish side.

Katie Bradley, one of a pair of Florida Atlantic University transfers on the LU roster, came away with a dominating hitting performance with match-high honors of 18 kills (.395 hitting percentage) while sophomore Chelsey Semprini was especially efficient with 14 kills and a .462 hitting percentage.

Devon Woolard and Abbey Brokop gave the Fish a solid setting duo of 27 and 13 assists respectively.

Sophie Gangnon and Kala Abdell both produced solid blocking efforts with Gagnon combining for five blocks (four assists, one solo) and Abdell adding in four block assists.

PBA’s Jessica Way added in 31 assists and three kills while providing six digs.