BABSON PARK, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team kicked off their 2022 season today with matches against Saint Leo University and Webber International University. The Sailfish got off to a perfect 2-0 start to the year after downing the Lions 3-2 in a close match and then cruising over Webber 5-0.

PBA started the afternoon with a match against a familiar opponent in Saint Leo. The 'Fish were 2-0 against the Lions last season and the two sides played a close match PBA was able to edge out. PBA's number one tandem of Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans were pushed in their opening match but they came out on top in three sets. After dropping the first 24-22, they bounced back taking the second 21-18 and the third 15-11. The returning pair of Lyndzey Minter and Abby DeVido, who were 16-6 togehter last season, didn't have the same success in their three-set match as they split the opening two 13-21 and 21-17 before dropping the third 10-15.

The Sailfish fell in the No. 3 position in straight sets as Olivia Finckel and Bailey Myott went down in two close sets 21-16 and 21-18. Fortunately for the 'Fish, the bottom two pairs came up big to secure the win in the match. Gabriella Aziz and Julia Golichowski easily won the opening set 21-9 before squeezing out a tight third set 15-13. Abigail Mason and Karla Cantero won 21-8 and 21-19 to pick up the third win for the Sailfish and capture the match 3-2. 

In the second match of the day, the Sailfish rolled over a highly ranked NAIA side in Webber 5-0. Schmidt and Evans made light work at the No. 1 position winning 21-9 and 21-5. Minter and DeVido bounced back to claim a three-set win, taking the last 15-13. Finckel and Myott rolled at the No. 3 position in straight sets and Mason and Cantero did the same to take their record to 2-0 on the day. Aziz and Golichowski bounced back from dropping the opening set to take the second 21-11 and the third 15-7 as they were perfect on the day.

It was a solid start to the season for the Sailfish and a tune-up as they head into a difficult stretch next week when they will travel to Jacksonville to face Jacksonville, Erskine, Coastal Carolina, and Saint Leo on Feb. 25-26.