TAMPA, Fla.- The Sailfish volleyball team traveled across the state on Tuesday evening to test their merits against No. 3-ranked University of Tampa at the Bob Martinez Center in a rematch of last season’s NCAA South Region Tournament Championship. Although the rosters have changed the result would be the same as UT claimed a victory this time by the score of 3-0.

Palm Beach Atlantic (11-3) would get off to fast starts in all three sets but each time the powerful Spartans (10-1) would fight back and pull away for victory.

The Sailfish jumped out to a quick 10-6 lead in the opening set and appeared primed for a possible upset however following a UT timeout the Spartans would finish off the set on a 19-6 run to post a 25-15 victory.

The second set would begin in similar fashion with PBA leading 4-2 in the early going and keeping things tight at 8-8 through the middle portion of the set. Things would turn to the Red and Black however down the stretch as they pushed forward for a 25-15 set two victory.

Tampa withstood a strong PBA showing in the third set to post a 25-19 win and claim a 3-0 sweep.

Sophomore outside-hitter Faith Rohn paced the PBA attack with nine kills but was consistently matched up against a big UT block that led to 10 hitting errors for the under-sized Sailfish hitter. Junior Brytney Annis added in six kills on 14 attacks (.357 hitting percentage) while Christina Alessi added in four kills with four errors.

Becca Acevedo tallied 25 assists in the loss while Melissa Buckingham, Alex Marszalek and Rachael Holehouse each topped the team’s defensive charts with seven digs apiece.

Overall the Sailfish were limited to a season-low .068 team hitting percentage.

Tampa utilized a balanced attack with senior Holly Reschke leading all players with 13 kills (.478 hitting percentage) while Berkley Whaley, a transfer from the University of Florida, posted eight kills on 20 swings.

PBA will be back at home for their next match as they will play host to Southeastern University on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 pm in the Rubin Arena.