HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team continued its nonconference schedule by competing at the Hillsdale College Invitational on Friday. 
 
The Sailfish started the day by losing in three sets to Ashland (5-1) who is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association Top-25. PBA bounced back in its afternoon match against Findlay (0-6), defeating the Oilers 3-2.
 
PBA (4-2) will play in the second half of the tournament tomorrow with matches against Northwood and No. 19 Hillsdale. The first match tomorrow will take place at 12 p.m.
 
#RV Ashland 3, No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic 0
 
Despite leading for the majority of the first set, the Ashland overcame the Sailfish 25-23. PBA held a 14-7 lead in the set, but Ashland battled back to tie it at 17. Both teams traded three-point runs before the Eagles began to pull away. Ashland stole the first set and never looked back.
 
The Sailfish had no answer for the Eagles' attack in the second set. Ashland hit .500 in the set on its way to a 25-16 win in which the Eagles led wire to wire.
 
Ashland's momentum carried over into the third set. The Sailfish found themselves with their backs against the wall after the Eagles took a 12-7 lead in the set. PBA battled back to tie the set at 13. Unfortunately for the Sailfish, they were unable to grab hold of the lead in the set, as Ashland completed the sweep by taking the third set 25-20.
 
PBA struggled to be efficient with its attack, hitting just .127 in the match as a team. Amber Rowoldt led the Sailfish with 10 kills and added seven digs and an ace to the Sailfish cause. Jazz Schmidt totaled 24 assists, and Lilly Turner recorded 12 digs. Freshman Anna Gregerson led PBA with three blocks.
 
No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Findlay 2
 
The Sailfish had a sloppy start to the match, conceding the first three points of the first set; however, PBA recovered to take a 7-6 lead early in the set thanks to a pair of kills from Schmidt and Sam Wolf. Findlay responded by going on an 12-3 run to take control of the set 18-10. PBA fought to decrease the deficit to three points, but the Oilers won the first set 25-19.
 
PBA cleaned up its attack in the second set. The 'Fish hit .542 as a team and ended the set on a 16-4 run to win 25-15. Wolf led PBA with four kills in the set.
 
Trying to continue their momentum, the Sailfish started the third set with a 10-5 lead. The Oilers answered with an 8-0 run to take a lead of their own. PBA was able to withstand the Findlay surge with kills by Rowoldt, Schmidt and Caroline Swan regaining the lead for the Sailfish. Unfortunately for PBA, the Oilers recouped the lead with a 6-0 run late in the set and never looked back. Findlay won the set 25-19.
 
The Sailfish had their most efficient set on offense in the fourth set. The Sailfish hit .583 as a team and won the set 25-16 to stay alive in the match. PBA continued to feed Wolf as the freshman totaled seven kills in the set.
 
The fifth set was a back and forth affair until late in the set. Trailing 10-9, the Sailfish ripped off a 5-0 run thanks to two kills by Schmidt and three attack errors by FIndlay to take a 14-10 lead. PBA won the set 15-12 to seal the match and complete the comeback.
 
PBA hit .316 for the match with 58 kills on 133 attempts. Wolf hit .500 in the match while leading the Sailfish with 17 kills. Schmidt followed with 14 kills of her own. Lilly Turner and Rowoldt led the 'Fish in digs with 13 apiece.  Schmidt, Gregerson and Jennie Anderson recorded three blocks each.