MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team continued its road trip with an away match against Florida Tech on Friday night.

The Sailfish, who are now ranked seventh in the most recent NCAA South Region Rankings, notched a win against Florida Tech (4-24, 2-15 SSC) in dramatic fashion. Through the first three sets, the Sailfish found themselves down 2-1. PBA (15-13, 8-9 SSC) took the fourth set with ease, winning 25-15 to force a fifth set. PBA found itself trailing 9-7 in the final set, but the 'Fish ended the set on an 8-3 run to win the set 15-12 and escape with a 3-2 victory. PBA was 0-6 in five-set matches this season before tonight's contest.

Alyse Cundiff posted a double-double totaling a team-high 17 kills with 15 digs. Reigning SSC Offensive Player of the Week, Jazz Schmidt recorded another triple-double with 16 kills, 23 assists, and 12 digs. Amber Rowoldt matched her with 16 kills and 16 digs of her own. Alyssa Avitia totaled a team-high 32 assists with eight digs. Ally Smith recorded 22 digs with two aces as libero. Anna Gregerson and Schmidt tied for a team-high four blocks.

The Sailfish led the majority of the first set. With PBA leading 18-13, a 6-0 run from the 'Fish with kills from Mary Morgan Formby, Schmidt, Avitia and a pair of FT attacking errors put the set out of reach, 23-13. PBA won the first set 25-15 after a kill from Cundiff. 

The roles were reversed in the second set as the Panthers went on a 7-0 run midway through the second thanks to six unforced PBA errors which gave FT a 19-15 lead. With the Panthers leading 23-19, the Sailfish tried to make a final push to steal the set. Kills from Schmidt and Cundiff along with an ace from Smith made it 23-22 FT. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, Florida Tech hung on to win 25-23 after a service error by Smith and a Panthers kill.

PBA was forced to play from behind in the third set after an 8-0 run gave the Panthers a 20-13 lead at the midway point. The Sailfish battled back again with kills from Rowoldt, Schmidt, and Cundiff helping PBA make it 21-20 FT. The 'Fish failed to complete the comeback again, dropping the third set, 25-22.

The Sailfish meant business in the fourth set, rattling off an 11-1 run early to take a 19-10 lead. Florida Tech never threatened a comeback as the Sailfish won the set 25-15 thanks to some unforced errors from FT.

PBA kept its momentum early in the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-0 lead after a pair of kills from Maddy Hooper. The Panthers responded with an 8-0 run of their own with three unforced errors by the 'Fish making it 8-6. PBA took a 13-9 lead after a 7-1 run, including a pair of kills each from Cundiff and Formby. Fittingly, Formby's final kill clinched the 15-12 set win and 3-2 match win for PBA.

The Sailfish outhit Florida Tech in the match, .199 - .099. The Sailfish totaled 71 kills compared to just 39 for the Panthers. PBA did not do itself any favors with 33 attacking errors but was able to overcome its mistakes.

PBA completes its road trip tomorrow with a match at Barry. The match in Miami Shores, Fla. takes place a 4 p.m.