LAKELAND, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team traveled to Florida Southern for an important matchup on Friday night.
 
The Sailfish picked up a key win over a Moccasins squad that was ranked No. 7 in the South Region rankings, two spots above PBA (14-12, 7-8 SSC). The win completed the season sweep against FSC (13-9, 9-6 SSC) as both teams are vying for a postseason opportunity. The Sailfish started the match by winning each of the first two sets 25-23. PBA dropped the third set, but the Sailfish did not let the match get away, clinching the 3-1 win after the fourth set.
 
Jazz Schmidt stuffed the stat sheet with her eighth triple double, leading the team in kills and digs. She finished with 20 kills, hitting .571, with 17 assists and 16 digs. Alyse Cundiff added 15 kills of her own with four digs and three blocks. Amber Rowoldt tallied 10 kills with eight digs. Alyssa Avitia finished three digs shy of a double-double, putting up a team-high 27 assists with seven digs. Anna Gregerson led the Sailfish front line with four blocks. Ally Smith totaled 12 digs as libero.
 
The first set was tightly contested as PBA battled back from two Florida Southern leads. The first set featured 15 ties and four lead changes. Florida Southern held a one-point advantage three times down the stretch leading 21-20, 22-21 and 23-22. PBA stole the set by ending on a 3-0 run with a kill from Schmidt and two unforced errors by the Mocs to win 25-23.
 
The second set was also very close, as the Mocs jumped out to an 11-5 lead. PBA answered with a 4-0 run with kills from Schmidt and Maddy Hooper to cut into the deficit. The 'Fish stayed within striking distance until a 6-1 run with kills from Schmidt, Rowoldt and Cundiff allowed the Sailfish to hold a 23-21 lead. A kill by Gregerson closed out a 25-23 set win for the 'Fish.
 
The Mocs, desperate to keep the match alive, led for the majority of the third set. With FSC leading 22-17, kills from Schmidt and Hooper along with an attacking error by the host made it a one-point set. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they were unable to earn the sweep as FSC won the set 25-21.
 
PBA made a statement in the fourth and final set. With freshman Kyndal Elam serving, the 'Fish went on a 7-0 run to take an early, 9-2 lead. Kills from Schmidt, Grace Talbert, Gregerson and Cundiff kept the PBA momentum, giving 'Fish a 15-3 lead. The Mocs made a comeback attempt later in the set with a 5-0 run making it, 23-15; however, kills from Schmidt and Rowoldt closed out a dominating 25-16 set win for PBA. The Sailfish hit a match-best .452 in the set.
 
The 'Fish outhit FSC, .268 - .206 in the match. PBA finished the match with a 60 percent side-out percentage. PBA has now won six of its last seven matches, including a three-match win streak.
 
The Sailfish have a tall task ahead of them tomorrow against Tampa who is ranked No. 9 in the AVCA top-25. The match takes place at 4 p.m.