FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team began the Sunshine State Conference portion of its schedule on Friday night at Nova Southeastern.

Although the Sharks (9-0, 2-0 SSC) entered the match with an undefeated 8-0 record and had not lost a set in their last seven matches, PBA (4-5, 0-1 SSC) had the hosts on the ropes after winning the first two sets. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they were unable to close out the match. NSU, who is also receiving votes in the AVCA top-25, escaped with a 3-2 win.

Jazz Schmidt tallied her second triple-double of the year, leading the 'Fish with 15 kills, hitting .325 along with a team-high 22 assists to go with 10 digs. Mary Morgan Formby recorded her first double-double of the year with 10 kills and 10 assists. Alyse Cundiff finished just shy of a double-double of her own with 10 kills and nine digs. Ally Smith led the 'Fish with 17 digs. Maddy Hooper led PBA with six block assists and a block solo.

PBA came ready to play early in the match. It seemed as if the switch to the 6-2 rotation may have caught the Sharks off-guard. A 7-3 run, including kills from Schmidt, Cundiff, and Anna Gregerson, gave the 'Fish a 17-12 lead in the middle of the first set. The Sharks clawed their way back to tie it at 20. Both teams battled back and forth, resulting in a tie at 24. Formby closed the set with a pair of kills to give the 'Fish the 26-24 set win. PBA handed NSU its first set loss in seven matches.

The Sailfish kept their momentum rolling in the second set. An 8-0 run with kills from Schmidt, Cundiff and Formby, allowed PBA to gain a 14-6 advantage. The Sailfish kept their distance the rest of the set, hitting .308 and tallying four total blocks. PBA took the second set, 25-17.

Despite PBA hitting its highest percentage of the night in the third set (.464), the Sharks stayed alive by taking the set, 25-19 while hitting .483. Attack errors came back to bite the Sailfish in the fourth set. PBA totaled eight errors in the set, despite just two blocks from NSU. The Sharks forced a fifth set by winning the fourth, 25-17.

PBA struggled to handle the Sharks' attack to start the fifth set as the Sharks got out to a 7-1 lead. PBA tried to battle back with NSU leading 14-6. A 5-0 run from the 'Fish cut the deficit to 3, but it was too little, too late as the Sharks got the final point they needed to take the set, 15-11, and seal the match.

PBA slightly out-hit the Sharks in the match, .230-.221. The Sailfish also totaled 11.5 team blocks compared to the Sharks' six. One advantage NSU held over PBA was 11 aces compared to just three for PBA.

The Sailfish look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Lynn. The match at Rubin Arena takes place at 4 p.m.