BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team entered today set to face their two toughest opponents of the season as they squared off against Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Atlantic. The Sailfish fell 3-2 against an FGCU side that is receiving votes in the national AVCA poll and 5-0 against the Owls who are ranked No. 12. The Sailfish record drops to 7-3 on the season.

Match 1: PBA - 2, FGCU - 3

The Sailfish started the day against a strong Eagles side who got out to a quick lead in the early matchups. FGCU won in straight sets at the No. 5 position as Olivia Finckel and Caroline Henderson teamed up and fell 21-8, 21-18. Emma Vann and Bailey Myott were solid as a team at the No. 4 position but dropped two close sets 21-19, 21-19. The Eagles clinched the match, winning their third point as they won at the No. 2 position over Abby DeVido and Lyndzey Minter 21-13, 21-18. As those matches were ending, the Sailfish were finding success with Gabriella Aziz and Abigail Mason at the No. 3 position as they won their match in three sets 21-17, 11-21, 15-11. PBA's top pair of Jazz Schmidt and Lunden Evans remained perfect on the season at the No. 1 position as they defeated Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Player of the Year Jaci Carpenter and her partner Kirstine Gardner in three sets 21-19, 22-24, 15-9. In the extra match, Julia Golichowski and Karla Cantero fell in a close three-set match 21-18, 16-21, 15-10.

Match 2: PBA - 0, FAU - 5

It was a tough turnaround for the Sailfish to face the nationally-ranked Owls on their home courts with no break in between matches as they faced FAU directly after their FGCU match ended. FAU was able to come out on top in every match starting at No. 5 where Golichowski and Cantero went down in two competitive sets 21-17, 21-15. Vann and Myott were once again close in their match in every set but came up on the wrong end of them both 21-18, 25-23. Minter and DeVido fall to 7-3 on the year as they fell 21-14 in both sets and Mason and Aziz lost their match 21-16, 21-13 to fall to 5-3 on the season. Even the tandem of Schmidt and Evans was unable to pull out their match as they fell in a tight three-setter. They were ahead in the first but ultimately fell 21-19 before bouncing back to take the second 17-21. All tied, they were unable to capture the third set falling 15-12 to drop their record to 9-1 on the season. Lorrayne Silva and Henderson teamed up in the extra match and fell as each set ended 21-17.

The Sailfish will be back in action on March 13 when they will host Stevenson and Eckerd in a tri-match at the Rinker Athletic Campus.