FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team hit the road to face another ranked division one competition this afternoon. The Sailfish played No. 20 ranked Florida Gulf Coast University for the third and fourth time this season. After falling 3-2 in each of the previous matches this season, PBA fell 4-1 in match one and then 5-0 in match two.

Match 1: PBA - 1, FGCU - 4

Facing a familiar opponent, the Sailfish were unable to come through in a handful of close sets that saw them drop the first match against the Eagles. Gabriella Aziz and Abigail Mason took the first set at the No. 5 position match 21-19 but were unable to capture the match as they fell in a close second set 21-19 and a third 15-10. Olivia Finckel and Bailey Myott lost in straight sets at the No. 4 position losing a close first set 21-18 and the second 21-11. The Eagles captured the crucial third point at the No. 3 position Julia Golichowski and Karla Cantero went down 21-12 in the first set and in an extended second set fell 25-23. PBA's No. 2 pair of Lyndzey Minter and Abby DeVido pushed the Eagles pair, attempting to gain their first win over the FGCU No. 2 pair on the year, and looked in good shape after taking the first set 26-24. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, the Eagles bounced back to take the second 21-13 and the third set 15-7. Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans moved to a perfect 3-0 against FGCU at the No. 1 position as they won in straight sets 21-19, 21-18. In the extra match, Kayleigh Hall and Lorrayne Silva teamed up and were victorious over their FGCU opponents 21-12, 21-16.

Match 2: PBA - 0, FGCU - 5

The same teams squared off with each other after a short break between matches. Each side kept their lineups the same as the previous match, and the result went in the Eagle's favor as they came out on top in every match during match number two of the day. Aziz and Mason fell 21-9, 21-10 at the No. 5 spot to take their record together to 8-11 together on the year. Myott and Finckel fell 21-17, 21-11 at the No. 4 while Golichowski and Cantero battled in a tight No. 3 match but came out on the wrong end after capturing the first set 21-19 they fell 21-13, 15-13 in the second and third sets. Minter and DeVido had their record together drop to 12-9 at the No. 2 position as they fell 21-14, 21-16. Even PBA's top pair of Schmidt and Evans had no luck in the second match as they suffered just their fourth defeat of the year to move to 17-4 as they fell 21-19, 13-21, 15-11. Hall and Silva once again handled the extra match but split with their opponents on the day coming up on the short end of a 21-15, 21-19 match. 

After a three- tournament stretch that featured ranked DI opponents, the Sailfish will return to facing SSC competition this weekend. They will head to Lakeland to face Eckerd and Florida Southern on March 26.