LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 9 Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball dropped their second match in eight days, as the defending Sunshine State Conference champions Florida Southern College defeated the Sailfish 3-1 on Friday evening. The Sailfish drop to 14-2 on the season with the loss and are now 6-2 in SSC play. Florida Southern improves to 9-6 overall with the win and 4-3 in league play.
Florida Southern controlled the tempo in the opening set on Friday evening inside Jenkins Fieldhouse. The Mocs opened up an early 12-3 lead and cruised to a 25-18 victory. Raegan Grooms had four kills and just one error in the opening set but the 'Fish were held to just .056 hitting while FSC hit a blistering .370 in the set.
The second set was more of the same for the 'Fish, as the Mocs held the 'Fish to just a .021 hitting clip in the frame and took the second set 25-20. The Sailfish were able to cut the Moccasin lead to 23-20 late in the set but lost the final two points, as the 'Fish struggled to slow down the FSC attack in the second set.
The third set was tight the whole way, as neither team could expand their lead to more than three and the set was tied at 20 late in the set. Back-to-back kills from Grooms gave the 'Fish a lead and forced the Mocs to use a timeout. Jennie Anderson and Grooms combined for a block to put the 'Fish up three, and Anderson followed with a solo block and a kill to close out the set 25-20 in favor of the 'Fish. Lyndzey Minter had a huge set for the 'Fish as she entered the match and had four kills in just six swings in the set.
The Moccasins pulled away late in the fourth set and finished the match off with a 25-19 final set victory. The Mocs limited the 'Fish to an even .000 hitting clip in the final set.
Maddie Span led the Sailfish with 13 kills on the night, as the senior hit .385 on the night and added five blocks. Grooms finished with 11 kills and eight errors on the night. Amber Rowoldt and Anderson had seven blocks each for the Sailfish. Molly Burkhardt finished with 42 assists and 17 digs, as Lilly Turner had 17 digs and two service aces.
The Sailfish will be back in action tomorrow as they face another tough opponent on the road. PBA will battle with Saint Leo at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
