ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team took to the sand in the Battle of the Bay Tournament hosted by Eckerd this afternoon and faced fellow SSC schools Tampa and Florida Southern. The Sailfish fell to a talented Spartans squad 4-1 before bouncing back later today to defeat the Mocs 3-2. The Sailfish are now 6-1 on the season after the 1-1 day.

Match 1: Tampa 4, PBA 1 

The 'Fish started their day against the defending AVCA Small College Champions in the Tampa Spartans. PBA was unable to keep their perfect record on the season after they fell 4-1. Jessica Nodell and Emma Pieper were defeated in two close sets, falling 21-17, 21-15. Gabriella Aziz and Kayleigh Hall fell in their No. 4 doubles match 21-5, 21-13. The Sailfish couldn't afford to lose another match if they wanted to pull off the comeback victory, but Lyndzey Minter and Sydney Wagner were defeated playing up at the No. 3 position for the first time this season 21-13, 21-9. Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans played well and pulled off an impressive No. 2 doubles victory 21-18, 21-14. With the match already in hand for the Spartans, Ally Bottenfield and Coleen Sieng were unable to keep their perfect record as a tandem intact as they fell in a back and forth three-set match 21-14, 17-21, 17-15.

Match 2: PBA 3, Florida Southern 2 

PBA was able to bounce back from their first defeat of the season with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Florida Southern. Nodell and Pieper were able to start the Sailfish off on the right track by winning in straight sets 21-12, 21-17. Aziz and Hall put PBA up 2-0 after winning 21-17, 21-17. Wagner and Minter were unable to clinch the match dropping two close sets 21-16, 22-20. The Mocs tied the match at 2 games apiece as Schmidt and Evans fell in straight sets 21-15, 21-19. Bottenfield and Sieng were able to win the third set easily 15-5 to clinch the match for the Sailfish. 

The Sailfish close out play at the Battle for the Bay tomorrow by facing Jacksonville and UT-Martin.