GOLDEN, Colo. – Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball won two matches on an exciting opening day of the 2018 season at the Oredigger Classic on the campus of Colorado School of Mines. The No. 12 ranked Sailfish dropped just two sets on the day and defeated Lee University and the University of Sioux Falls by scores of 3-1 in each match.
The Sailfish are back in action tomorrow, as they will face off with Davenport and Cal State-East Bay beginning at noon EST.
No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Lee 1
The Sailfish got their 2018 season started with a 3-1 win over Lee University, and got stellar performances from seniors Molly Burkhardt and Raegan Grooms on their way to the region victory.
The 'Fish got off to a good start in the opening match of the day, as they took the first set 25-20 as Grooms picked up five kills and Burkhardt totaled 10 assists in the set. The Sailfish led 21-20 in the back-and-forth first set before kills by Grooms and fellow senior Maddie Span and an ace by Burkhardt helped the 'Fish close out the first set.
The Flames came out strong in the second set, as they hit .333 and powered their way to a 25-18 win to tie the match up. The 'Fish found themselves down 14-10 midway through the set and were never able to close the gap, hitting just .100 in the set.
Set three was all Sailfish, as they jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, and rode a solid offensive attack to win the set 25-19. The big run in the set came after Lee cut the Sailfish lead to 13-11 midway through the set. The 'Fish responded by winning eight of the next nine points, opening up a 21-12 lead. The 'Fish got a nice boost from freshman Amber Rowoldt, who picked up five of her ten kills in the third set, and also added a service ace late in the set.
The Sailfish and Flames played a very close fourth set, as neither team led by more than four points in the set. PBA and Lee were tied at 23 late in the set, and after an attacking error from the Flames, a Burkhardt kill ended the set and the victory for the Sailfish.
Grooms led the Sailfish with 17 kills in the season opener, as the senior also added 16 digs. Lyndzey Minter and Rowoldt both added 10 kills apiece, as Rowoldt added 11 digs for a double-double while Minter added three block assists. Burkhardt had a great opening match of the season as she finished with 47 assists, 9 digs, and four kills.
The duo of Span and Jennie Anderson had a solid match at the net, as they combined for 17 kills and seven errors. Lilly Turner, the Sailfish libero, picked up 16 digs in the match.
No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Sioux Falls 1
The Sailfish came out a bit sluggish in the second half of their doubleheader on Friday, as the Cougars took the first set 25-21 in their first match of the day. Span kept the Sailfish in the set early, as the senior had three kills and no errors in the set, but Sioux Falls pulled away late to take the opening set.
The second set was back-and-forth for most of the way, with the Cougars leading 18-17 and threatening to take a commanding lead in the match. The 'Fish got a couple big kills from Grooms to take the lead and went on to win the set 25-21.
The Sailfish had a commanding 18-12 lead in the third set but lost five consecutive points as Sioux Falls cut the Sailfish lead to just one point. The 'Fish responded with a run of their own, as they won the next seven points to win the set 25-18.
USF had the lead for most of the fourth set as they attempted to send the match to a deciding fifth set, but the Sailfish mounted an exciting comeback late in the set, winning four of the final five points to win the set 25-23 and the match 3-1. Rowoldt picked up the match-ending kill for the 'Fish, as she had a stellar match overall, picking up 12 kills and hitting .400 while adding 10 digs.
Grooms led the 'Fish in kills once again, this time with 15 on 41 swings. Burkhardt posted 42 assists in the match, while adding 10 digs, eight kills, and six blocks. The Sailfish duo of Span and Anderson had solid matches again, as they combined for 13 kills and just four errors while Span led the way with six blocks.
Turner had 12 digs and six assists in the win while Ally Smith led the team with four service aces.
