WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team hosted the Jacksonville Dolphins to close out their regular season. The Sailfish were dominant in the first match on their way to a 5-0 victory and after switching up some of their partners in the second match, PBA pulled out another 5-0 win. With the two victories, the Sailfish improve their record to 12-6.
Match 1: PBA 5, JU 0
They controlled the opening match against the division I instate Dolphins dropping just one set and taking each match on their way to the 5-0 victory.
Gabriella Aziz and
Julia Golichowski were victorious in the No. 5 position winning in straight sets 21-8, 21-17. The two improve to 7-7 as a team playing in the No. 4 and No. 5 positions for the Sailfish throughout the year.
Jessica Nodell and
Sydney Wagner pulled out a tight first set 21-17 at the No. 4 position before rolling in the second set 21-9 to improve their record as a tandem to 9-7. The No. 3 team of
Emma Pieper and
Olivia Finckel pulled out the closest game of the opening match as they won in three sets 21-17, 21-23, 15-11. PBA's main No. 3 team throughout the year now carries an 8-7 record together on their way to the postseason.
Lyndzey Minter and
Abby DeVido won the opening set 21-11 and had to battle in the second but came out on top 25-23. The duo has been reliable all year for the 'Fish with a 12-4 record. PBA's No. 1 team on
Jazz Schmidt and
Lunden Evans clinched the clean sweep in straight sets 21-14, 21-19 and are now 13-3 together this season.
Match 2: PBA 5, JU 0
PBA made some changes in the second match as they attempted to take down the Dolphins for the second time on the day.
Abigail Mason and
Kayleigh Hall teamed up at the No. 5 position and were able to come out on top in a tight three-set match. They won the first set 21-17 before dropping the second 19-21 and then coming up clutch to keep the Sailfish perfect on the day with a 16-14 victory. Nodell and
Kylee Whiteleather dropped the opening set at the No. 4 position but fought back to win 22-20 in the second set and 15-12 in the decisive third set. DeVido and Finckel teamed up at No. 3 in the second match and were victorious in straight sets 21-10, 24-22. Schmidt and Pieper looked like a solid team at No. 2 despite playing together for the first time this year as they rolled to a straight-set victory 21-10, 21-11. Evans and Minter played together at the No. 1 position and finished off the perfect day for the 'Fish winning in a third set 15-6.
The Sailfish celebrated seniors
Emma Pieper and
Jessica Nodell by sending them off with two wins over their division I opponents. The Sailfish aren't finished yet as they are scheduled to compete in the AVCA Small College Championship in Taveras, Fla. on April 16-18.