BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team began play today in the FAU Sandy Owls Invitational. The field for the event includes large division I and nationally ranked teams from across the state of Florida. The Sailfish started by dropping a close match against the North Florida Osprey 3-2 before bouncing back and earning the program's best win against No. 20 ranked FGCU.

Match 1: PBA 2, UNF 3 

The Ospreys entered the match with a 13-5 record, with their only defeats coming against nationally-ranked Jacksonville and Florida International. The Sailfish were on the verge of taking out a big opponent, but they fell just short in the match losing 3-2. UNF got on the board first as they were victorious in straight sets against PBA's No. 5 duo of Jessica Nodell and Sydney Wagner 21-13 in both sets. PBA's Gabriella Aziz and Julia Golichowski dropped the next match at the No. 4 position in two tightly contested sets 23-21, 21-18. The Sailfish got back into the match as the tandem of Emma Pieper and Olivia Finckel at the No. 3 position rolled in both sets 21-15. PBA tied up the match as Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans were victorious as the No. 1duo. The Sailfish side looked impressive in both sets, winning the first set 21-14 and then the second 21-13. With the match tied, PBA's No. 2 team of Lyndzey Minter and Abby DeVido had a chance to give the 'Fish the win. They split the opening two sets with each side winning 21-15, but the Ospreys got the upper hand in the decisive third set 15-11 to claim the victory.   

Match 2: PBA 3, FGCU 2

The Sailfish faced the Eagles for the second time this season as they fell 4-1 earlier in the year. PBA got its revenge this time around as they took down the No. 20 ranked FGCU side 3-2. Aziz and Golichowski fell in the straight sets, 21-16, 21-18 to take their record as a team to 5-6 as the Sailfish fell behind early. The tandem of Nodell and Wagner were able to get the 'Fish on the board, pulling a three-set match 21-17, 17-21, 15-11. The two went 1-1 on the day to move their record as a team to 5-6. DeVido and Minter went down in straight sets in another close match as they dropped the 21-18 and then an extended second set 24-22. The Sailfish needed both of the remaining matches to claim the comeback victory and that is exactly what they got as Pieper and Finckel bounced back from dropping the opening set 21-11 to win 23-11 and 15-12 in the second and third. The two wins against big competition today take the duo's record to 6-5 on the year. Schmidt and Evans came up clutch with the pressure of the match on their shoulders as they pulled out two close sets 21-18, 22-20 to claim the victory 3-2 for PBA. With two wins today, Schmidt and Evans are now 10-2 on the year at the No. 1 position.

It was a split today for the Sailfish against two big D-I Florida programs that showed the Sailfish can compete against any team in the state. After the program's biggest win of its young history, the Sailfish will return to action tomorrow to face their rivals Tampa and No. 11 ranked FAU.