BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team wrapped up play in the FAU Sandy Owl Invitational today by facing off with the Tampa Spartans and the host Florida Atlantic Owls. After a 1-1 split yesterday, the Sailfish took down the Spartans 4-1 today before falling to the No. 11 ranked Owls this afternoon 4-1. 

Game 1: PBA 4, Tampa 1

The Sailfish and the Spartans squared off for the third time this season. After two close defeats earlier in the season, the Sailfish got their payback today by defeating Tampa 4-1. The Sailfish got off to a strong start as the duo of Jessica Nodell and Sydney Wagner were victorious in two dominating sets 21-12, 21-10. Gabriella Aziz and Julia Golichowski continued the Sailfish momentum as they pulled out a close three-set match at the No. 4 position 21-14, 21-23, 15-9 to bring PBA within one win of the match victory. Olivia Finckel and Emma Pieper who were 2-0 yesterday against big-time competition fell today at the No. 3 position in two sets 21-18, 21-16. However, the Sailfish would not be denied as the No. 2 team of Abby DeVido and Lyndzey Minter won in two sets 22-20, and PBA's No. 1 team of Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans was victorious 21-18, 21-17. The Sailfish claimed the win over their rival for the first time this year 4-1.

Game 2: PBA 1, FAU 4 

After taking out the No. 20 team in the country yesterday, the Sailfish looked to take down another ranked opponent in No. 11 FAU, but the Owls were to much for the 'Fish on their home courts and won 4-1. Aziz and Golichowski forced a third set after splitting the opening two sets but they fell 15-7 in the decisive set and now carry a 6-7 record as a duo. Nodell and Wagner went down in straight sets 21-10, 21-11 as they fall to 6-7 on the year. After losing a close first set 21-19 Pieper and Finckel went down 21-9 in the second as the Owls secured the match win. The Sailfish claimed a point at the No. 2 position where Minter and DeVido won a three-set match 22-20, 11-21, 16-14. Evans and Schmidt suffered a rare defeat albeit against big-time opponents as they went down in two sets 21-19, 21-14 to take their season mark to 11-3.

It was a solid four-game stretch for the Sailfish as they went 2-2 on the week. They were able to take out DII rivals Tampa along with an upset over ranked FGCU. The Sailfish will return home on April 9 to take on St. Thomas and Ave Maria at the Rinker Athletic Campus.