LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 9 Palm Beach Atlantic survived their first round match in the NCAA South Region Tournament, defeating Eckerd College 25-23, 28-26, 19-25, 25-21. The Sailfish advance to take on No. 17 West Florida on Friday.

Ally Rohn led PBA with a season-high 21 kills and also added 15 digs. The Sailfish (26-3) racked up 18 kills in the first set as they hit a match-high .325. Eckerd (17-12) kept pace with 15 kills and a .297 attack percentage. In the second both teams cooled off a touch but the Tritons still managed to compile 19 kills in the set.

Neither team was able to take much of an advantage with the largest team through the first two sets being just four points. PBA overcame being down 24-21 in the second set to rally and score seven of the final nine points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Raegan Grooms tallied two of her seven kills during the run as Maddie Span added a solo block.

The 'Fish finished with 14 team blocks including six in the fourth and final set. Both Span and Sarah Kimmey collected three blocks in the fourth set as Span led the team with eight total. Kimmey added five as she also finished with eight kills.

Molly Burkhardt registered five blocks as well to go along with 45 assists, 10 digs and three kills. The team hit .200 for the match while the Tritons came in a .215 but Eckerd committed 12 service errors to just seven for the 'Fish.

Lilly Turner led the team with 17 digs as Grooms added seven digs and seven kills. Jazz Schmidt also collected seven kills and five digs. The freshman had half of the team's four service aces in the match.

PBA advances to take on No. 17 and third-seeded West Florida in Friday's first semifinal at 5 p.m. The two teams met earlier this season in Alabama at the SSC/GSC Crossover with PBA winning in four sets.