WEST PALM BEACH, Fla – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team looked to get back on track when it hosted No. 22 Tampa at Rubin Arena on Friday.
Although each set was competitive, the Sailfish failed to turn the corner against the Spartans. Tampa (6-6, 2-2 Sunshine State Conference) swept PBA (6-6, 1-3 SSC) 3-0. This was the first time the 'Fish have been swept at home since last season against Saint Leo.
Tampa grabbed an early lead against PBA in the first set. The Spartans jumped out to an 8-4 lead, but the Sailfish cut into the deficit thanks to kills by
Amber Rowoldt and
Sam Wolf. The Spartans pulled away again, but the Sailfish answered with a 4-1 run to bring the set to 13-12. Unfortunately for PBA, they were unable to overcome a 6-1 run from Tampa that put the Spartans back in control of the match. The Spartans took the set 25-20.
PBA had a better start to the second set. The Sailfish got out to a 9-4 lead thanks in large part to three kills by
Jazz Schmidt. Slowly but surely, the defending national champions worked their way back into the set. Tampa eventually tied the set at 16. Both teams traded three-point runs, but it was the Spartans taking the set 25-23.
The Sailfish were determined to avoid the sweep. Three kills from
Jordan Rush gave PBA a lead early in the set. After two consecutive points from Tampa, Wolf answered with a pair of kills followed by an ace from Rowoldt which gave PBA an 11-9 lead; however, the Sailfish failed to keep the Spartans down for long. An 8-1 run by the Spartans gave Tampa a 17-12 lead and the 2018 co-SSC champions never looked back. PBA battled hard, but ultimately lost the set 25-20.
Tampa outhit the Sailfish as a team .286-.148. Schmidt led PBA with 15 kills with a pair of blocks. She was followed by the freshman pair of Wolf and Rush who finished with 11 kills and six kills respectively.
Emma Pieper finished with 29 assists, and the trio of
Ally Smith, Schmidt and Pieper led PBA with seven digs each.
Anna Gregerson and Rowoldt added two blocks each to the Sailfish cause.
PBA will hit the road on Friday to face the undefeated Embry-Riddle. The match in Daytona Beach, Florida, takes place at 7 p.m.
