Box Score WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- After a grueling five set match on Wednesday evening, the Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team still had enough in the tank 24 hours later to polish off their fourteenth straight win of the season with a 3-0 sweep of Southeastern (Fla.) University. Senior Mariela Quesada led a balanced attack for the Sailfish who improve to 16-2 on the year as they approach midseason.
While the match may have lacked the same drama as the night before with their 3-2 win over Eckerd (Fla.) College, Thursday’s match with the Fire (4-14) did present some opportunities for the Fish to extend their roster and receive valuable court time for some varying rotations.
After a dominating 25-10 win in the opening set, the Fish utilized a bit more substitutions moving forward as they closed out the match with 25-18 and 25-17 victories over the Fire who had entered play on a two-match winning streak.
Quesada led all hitters with 10 kills (.400 attacking percentage) while adding in seven digs. Freshman Faith Rohn backed up her strong performance the night before of 17 kills and 15 digs with another strong showing tonight with nine kills and eight digs.
Rachel Jones added in six kills on just 13 attacks (.462 attacking percentage) while Brytney Annis and Elly Raush each added in five kills.
Melissa Buckingham led the defensive unit with 11 digs while Becca Acevedo did her usual solid work from the setter position with 34 assists while adding in four digs.
Raush and Annis gave the Fish a nice blocking duo for much of the night as they teamed up on four block assists each.
The Fire were led by five kills from Taylor Dawson while Laura Ackart added in 10 digs. Tara McSherley provided 15 assists in the loss.
Palm Beach Atlantic will have the weekend off from volleyball as they will next hit the court on Wednesday, October 3rd when they host Ave Maria University at 7 pm at the Rubin Arena. The annual Pepsi Bash at the Beach Tournament will take place on Oct. 5-6.