FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After being forced to adjust its schedule due to Hurricane Dorian, the Palm Beach Atlantic Volleyball team started its season at the Shark Invitational on Friday, hosted by fellow SSC member Nova Southeastern.
The Sailfish started the day by sweeping Truman St. 3-0 in their first game, followed by a 3-1 win against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.
PBA will continue play in the tournament with two games tomorrow. Saturday features a matchup with the No. 7 ranked Lewis Flyers at 9:30 a.m. followed by a game against Millersville at 2:30 to conclude the tournament.
No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Truman St. 0
After falling behind 3-2 early in set one, the Sailfish composed themselves and went on a four-point run which included kills by Anna Gregerson, Jennie Anderson and Jordan Rush. PBA never looked back as the 'Fish did not trail the rest of the set. They won set one 25-20 while hitting .265 as a team.
The Sailfish had total control in set two. PBA led the entire set, ending in a 25-19 win for the 'Fish. Sam Wolf, making her collegiate debut, led PBA with four kills and made two blocks in the set.
PBA completed the sweep in the third set. After Truman St.'s three-point run made it 18-15, the 'Fish scored seven of the last 10 points to win 25-18. Kills by Ally Smith and Amber Rowoldt put the exclamation point on PBA's first victory of 2019.
Jazz Schmidt and Rowoldt led the Sailfish attack with seven kills each. Schmidt also contributed 19 assists and nine digs to PBA's cause. Rowoldt led PBA with 13 digs in the match. Anderson made her presence known in the middle with five blocks and four kills. Gregerson, Wolf, Rush, Caroline Swan and Brooke Taylor each made their collegiate debuts for the Sailfish.
No. 15 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, Puerto-Rico-Mayaguez 1
PBA wasted no time taking control of the match against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. The Sailfish won the first two matches in dominant fashion.
In set one, the score was tied at 11 before the Sailfish went on a nine-point run highlighted by two kills from Lyndzey Minter. PBA wasted little time putting the Bulldogs away, winning the set 25-15.
The 'Fish had their best offensive performance in set two. PBA hit .346 as a team in the second set, winning 25-14. Rowoldt led PBA in the set with four kills.
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez did not go down without a fight. The Bulldogs won a hard fought third set by a score of 27-25. PBA hit -.028 in the set which was its worst offensive performance of the day.
PBA sealed its second victory of the day in set four. After trailing 10-7, the Sailfish ripped off a 11-1 scoring run to take a 18-11 lead. PBA never looked back, winning the match 25-16. Rowoldt led the Sailfish with 13 kills; not far behind was Wolf with 10 kills of her own. Lilly Turner tallied 16 digs as the libero. Anderson finished the match with seven blocks and Schmidt totaled 37 assists.
