GOLDEN, Colo. – Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball completed play at the Oredigger Classic with a perfect 4-0 record, as they defeated Davenport and Cal. State East Bay on Saturday. The Sailfish will now set their sights on the Lee University Holiday Inn Express Classic, where they will play four more matches next weekend in Cleveland, Tenn.
Following the tournament, freshman Amber Rowoldt and senior Molly Burkhardt were named to the Oredigger Classic All-Tournament Team .
No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Davenport 1
The Sailfish picked up right where they left off at the Oredigger Classic on Saturday, as they opened up the match with a balanced offensive attack and took the first set against Davenport 25-19. The 'Fish got six kills from freshman Amber Rowoldt in the opening set, as she led the charge for the Sailfish the entire match.
The Panthers responded quickly in the second set, as they rattled off the first six points to take the early lead. The 'Fish responded with a nice run of their own, winning seven of the next eight points to tie the set at 7-7. The set remained closely contested throughout, but Davenport pulled away late to win the set 25-23.
The Sailfish had their best offensive performance in the third set, as they hit .273 and finished with 16 kills en route to a 25-19 win. Senior Raegan Grooms dominated play in the set, as she finished with six kills and added two service aces for the 'Fish.
PBA closed out the victory in the fourth set, as they overcame sloppy offensive play to win the final set 25-22. Maddie Span and Lyndzey Minter came up with big kills late in the set to seal the win for the 'Fish.
Rowoldt led all players with 19 kills in just her third collegiate match, as the freshman added five digs as well. Molly Burkhardt finished with 41 assists and eight digs, while Grooms and Minter finished with nine kills each. Lilly Turner led the 'Fish with 13 digs, while Jennie Anderson led all Sailfish players with five blocks. Span continued her efficient play, as the senior finished with seven kills and just one attacking error.
No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Cal. State East Bay 1
The Sailfish and Pioneers played a wild four-set match to close out the Oredigger Classic, as both teams won a lopsided set and PBA won two sets that went past regulation.
The first set went back and forth as both teams had chances to finish out the set late. The Pioneers had three set points, but the Sailfish won all three and ended up winning the set 30-28. Anderson had six kills in just seven swings to lead the Sailfish in the set.
The second set was all Pioneers, as they hit .314 and held the 'Fish to a -.081 clip and dominated the set 25-13.
The Pioneers looked like they would run away with the third set as well, as they held 20-13 and 22-16 leads and were well in control of the match. A big kill from Rowoldt followed by a service ace from Ally Smith turned the set around for the 'Fish, who won 10 of the final 12 points to win the set 26-24.
The Sailfish kept it going in the fourth, as they had 14 kills and just four errors and won the set 25-14. Rowoldt and Grooms combined for seven kills in the final set, and sealed the win for the 'Fish.
Grooms led the Sailfish with 14 kills, as she added 11 digs for another double-double. Anderson had a dominant match at the net, as the sophomore tallied 12 kills and four blocks while hitting .429. Turner finished with a season-high 22 digs, while Smith amassed 16 digs. Burkhardt had a monster match for the 'Fish, finishing with 46 assists, 12 digs, and seven kills.
