ST. LEO, Fla.– The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team finished its weekend road trip with a dramatic win against conference foe Saint Leo on Saturday afternoon.
 
Despite dealing with multiple injuries, PBA (14-11, 6-8 Sunshine State Conference) persevered through adversity and gave the Lions a fight. After the Sailfish won the first set, Saint Leo (17-8, 8-6 SSC) took both the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead. PBA continued to endure, coming from behind to take the fourth and fifth sets to win 3-2.
 
PBA started the match strong by winning the first set. After falling behind early, the 'Fish went on a 6-1 run which included four kills from Caroline Swan to take an 18-17 lead. The Sailfish led the rest of the set, with kills by Ally Smith and Anna Gregerson putting the exclamation points on a 25-21 set win for the 'Fish. The Sailfish outhit Saint Leo .317-.146 in the set.
 
Saint Leo bounced back in the second set as the Lions got out to an early lead to start the set. The Sailfish battled back to cut the deficit to one, but a 9-2 run by the hosts gave Saint Leo a sizable 18-10 advantage. The deficit proved too large for PBA to overcome. The Sailfish tried to make a run late, but the Lions won the set 25-18.
 
The Sailfish struggles on offense hit their peak in the third set. PBA was held to a -.067 hitting percentage as Saint Leo cruised to a 25-15 set win that included six blocks by the Lions to take a 2-1 lead in the match. 
 
Just when the situation looked bleak for the Sailfish, PBA kept its composure and showed signs of life in the fourth set. The Sailfish started the set with an early lead and never looked back. Saint Leo tied the set at 15, but PBA kept control of the set thanks to clutch kills down the stretch from Jazz Schmidt, Gregerson and Jordan Rush.
 
PBA carried its momentum into a dramatic fifth set. The Sailfish rattled off a 9-2 run that included three kills from Schmidt, a kill from Smith, an ace from Carly Middleton and an ace and a kill by Lyndzey Minter to start the set and take a commanding lead. Saint Leo responded by making the deficit 12-9 down the stretch, but two kills from Rush and a block from Minter and Schmidt sealed the set 15-10 and earned the victory in the match. 
 
Schmidt finished with a double-double totaling 15 kills and 20 assists to go along with nine digs and five blocks. Rush had a career-high 12 kills. Swan added 11 kills and Gregerson tallied 10 kills and three blocks while hitting .625 for the Sailfish. Emma Pieper led PBA with 24 assists while Lilly Turner totaled 19 digs.
 
The Sailfish return home on Friday night to face Florida Tech. The match at Rubin Arena will start at 7 p.m.