HILLSDALE, Mich. –The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team concluded the second half of the Hillsdale College Invitational on Saturday.
 
The Sailfish started the day by facing Northwood (0-6) who was still searching for its first win of the season. PBA (5-3) held off the pesky Timberwolves by defeating Northwood in four sets. The Sailfish followed up their victory with a top-25 matchup against the hosting No. 19 Hillsdale College (7-2). PBA took the Chargers to five sets, but ultimately came up short, losing the match 3-2.
 
PBA returns to the Sunshine State to begin its SSC schedule which starts off with road matches against Nova Southeastern (Sept. 20) and Lynn (Sept. 21).
 
No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Northwood 1
 
Sam Wolf topped her 17-kill performance from yesterday's win against Findlay by leading the Sailfish with 18 kills while hitting .438 in their win against Northwood. The freshman came out firing on all cylinders, as her five kills led PBA to a 25-23 win in the first set.
 
Errors came back to bite the Sailfish in the second set. PBA had 11 errors to just nine kills, while Northwood hit .304 as a team in the set. An 11-5 run in the middle of the set allowed the Timberwolves to pull away. Northwood took the second set 25-18.
 
The Sailfish regrouped in the third set. PBA had its most efficient attack of the match in the set, hitting .393 as a team. The combination of Wolf and Jazz Schmidt was responsible for six of PBA's first seven points of the set which allowed the Sailfish to build an early lead. Northwood battled back to tie the set at eight; however, PBA responded with a 9-1 run which included two aces from Amber Rowoldt and kills from Anna Gregerson, Schmidt and Wolf give the 'Fish control of the set. The Sailfish won the third set 25-16.
 
PBA continued its offensive efficiency in the fourth set. After conceding the first point, the Sailfish led the rest of the set. The Sailfish hit .387 on their way to winning the fourth match 25-19 to clinch the match.
 
Jennie Anderson and Schmidt made their presence known in the middle, recording three blocks each. Schmidt was second on the team with nine kills in the match. Lilly Turner led the Sailfish with nine digs in the back row. 
 
No. 19 Hillsdale 3, No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic 2
 
The Sailfish ended the tournament by facing the hosting Hillsdale College.  The Chargers started the match by winning the first set that included seven lead changes. PBA had an opportunity to win the set as it led 23-22 down the stretch, but a three-point run allowed the Chargers to steal the set, 25-23. 
 
PBA returned the favor in the second set with a 25-23 won of its own. With the score tied at 22, the Sailfish went on a 3-1 run with kills by Rowoldt, Wolf and Schmidt to even the match at one set apiece.
 
A sloppy attack cost PBA in the third set. The Sailfish tied the set at nine, but Hillsdale pulled away and led for the rest of the set, winning 25-16.
 
With their back against the wall, the Sailfish responded in the fourth set. PBA got off to a strong start, leading the Chargers 16-9. Hillsdale did not go away without a fight. A 12-7 run cut into the Sailfish lead, making it 23-21. A kill from Rowoldt brought the score to 24-21. Hillsdale responded with two consecutive points, but PBA clinched the set with a kill from Wolf in a rally that included a clutch save by Turner.
 
Unfortunately for PBA, there was still a fifth set to play, and Hillsdale was in control for the majority of it. The Chargers hit .688 in the set along with several aces to win the set to clinch the match, 15-7.
 
Wolf and Schmidt led the Sailfish with 20 and 19 kills respectively. Schmidt boasted an efficient .529 hit percentage on 34 attempts and added 10 assists.  Turner led PBA with 28 digs and recorded an ace in the match. Emma Pieper totaled 27 assists and eight digs.