FLORENCE, Ala.- The Sailfish volleyball team began an important three-game stretch on Friday afternoon with a matchup against Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University on the campus of the University of North Alabama. The Fish would need a resilient effort to take down the Lady Bucs as PBA came from a 2-1 deficit to claim an important 3-2 NCAA regional victory.

The Sailfish (29-3) will look to top the 30-win plateau for the second straight season on Saturday when they battle a pair of teams in the state of Alabama. The Fish will first take on the University of North Alabama at 11:30 am and then a 3:30 showdown with the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

Friday evening’s showdown featured a top-five showdown from the NCAA South Region with the Sailfish ranked No. 3 in the first regional poll released on Wednesday and the Lady Bucs laying claim to the No. 5 spot.

In a season that has seen the Sailfish now play in six matches that would go the full five sets, the Blue and White have been blessed to go a perfect 6-for-6 in victory.

With not much game action the past few weeks, it would have been understandable had the Fish come out sluggish following a long trip to North Alabama. That however would not be the case at all as the they pounded out 18 kills with just one hitting error on their way to a 25-14 win in the opening set.

Things would quickly turn to CBU’s favor in the next set as the Lady Bucs flipped the score to 25-19 in their favor to even the score. A closer contest would then follow as the Fish got to game point at 24-23 only to see the Lady Bucs fire off the final three points of the match for a 26-24 win to take an important 2-1 lead.

An improved hitting percentage from Palm Beach Atlantic (.225) evened the match at 2-2 in the fourth set with a 25-18 victory.

Moving to the fifth and final set, it would take another PBA comeback effort to clinch the match.

Trailing 7-3, a timeout by PBA head coach Bob White would settle his team down as they stormed back to tie the deciding set at 8-8 on an Elly Raush kill.

Switching sides, the Fish and Lady Bucs would last tie at 12-12 when PBA rattled off the final three points for the win. A kill by senior Mariela Quesada, her 22nd of the match, would clinch the important win for Palm Beach Atlantic.

Quesada’s 22 kills finished as a match-high with freshman Faith Rohn following not far behind with an impressive 18 kills to aid the attack. Freshman Rachel Jones and sophomore Brytney Annis also posted solid showings with nine and eight kills respectively.

Quesada matched her kills total in digs as well with 22 to lead the team while sophomore libero Melissa Buckingham added in 19 digs. Rohn and Rachael Holehouse each chipped in 12 digs.

Becca Acevedo did a tremendous job from the setter position with a career-high 60 assists in the win.

Alexis Gillis posted 12 kills to lead CBU while the team hit .095 for the match. PBA finished off the match with a .229 hitting percentage.