CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball won a pair of matches on Saturday, as they defeated Arkansas Tech in a five-set thriller and defeated Lee University for the second time this season in four sets. The Sailfish will now prepare for Sunshine State Conference play, which will begin on Friday, Sept. 7 as the 'Fish will host Palm Beach County rival Lynn University inside Rubin Arena at 7 p.m.
No. 11 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, RV Arkansas Tech 2
The Sailfish and Golden Suns played an instant classic on Saturday morning, as the Sailfish won in five sets on the campus of Lee University. The first set was back-and-forth most of the way, with the teams being tied at 24 and the Sailfish actually holding a 26-25 lead before dropping three straight points and the set. The 'Fish got six kills each from Raegan Grooms and Amber Rowoldt, but it wasn't enough as Arkansas Tech hit .250 in the opening set.
The second set was all Sailfish, as Rowoldt added six more kills on just nine swings and the 'Fish powered their way to a 25-18 win. Lyndzey Minter and Maddie Span added three kills each in the set for the 'Fish.
Things started shifting in favor of the Golden Suns in the third set, as Grooms was forced to leave the match with an illness, and the Suns dominated the set, winning 25-15 and hitting over .400.
The 'Fish rallied in the fourth set, as they received a nice boost from Ally Smith, who had three kills in the set for the 'Fish, who hit just .172 in the set but held on to win 25-22 to force a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set was all Suns early, as Sailfish coach Doug Walters was forced to call a timeout down 5-2, and the 'Fish trailed by 7-2 after losing six consecutive points. Things turned around for the 'Fish however, and Grooms reentered the match down 8-4 in the set, which turned into a thriller. PBA and Arkansas Tech battled it out in a fifth set that saw 13 match points before a block by Minter and Span ended the victory for the 'Fish. Grooms had an impressive six kills in her fifth set return, and matched Rowoldt who had six of her match high 24 in the final set. Jennie Anderson came up huge for the 'Fish as well with four kills on six attacks in the final set.
Rowoldt added 14 digs in the match for a double-double, and Grooms ended up with 14 kills and just four errors. Minter added 11 kills for the 'Fish, and Anderson and Span hid six each. Smith had a career high with five kills and 15 digs. Lilly Turner finished with 25 digs to lead the 'Fish, and Burkhardt amassed 58 assists and 17 digs in the five setter.
No. 11 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Lee 1
The Sailfish defeated the Flames a week ago in a close match in Colorado, and the two teams picked right up where they left off, as the first set was as close as it could get. Neither team was able to pull away, and the set lasted until Rowoldt put down back-to-back kills to give the 'Fish a 29-27 win. The freshman finished the set with eight kills.
The Sailfish dominated the second set, as they hit .370 en route to a 25-15 victory. The third set was much like the first, as neither team was able to pull away, and after surviving several match points, the Flames took the set 29-27.
The final set was all Sailfish, as PBA won 25-12 and hit .500 in the set. Rowoldt and Anderson combined for nine kills and no errors in just 12 swings on the final frame.
Anderson had her best match of the season, as the redshirt sophomore had 13 kills and no errors while adding four blocks. The Flames had no answer for the Sailfish middles, as Span also dominated up front, finishing with 11 kills and just one error. Rowoldt once again led the team with her 20 kills, while adding 15 digs and three blocks.
