CLARION, Pa. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team concluded its time in Pennsylvania on Saturday with matches against Northwood and Clarion.

The Sailfish started the day with an impressive 3-0 sweep over Northwood. The Sailfish could do no wrong offensively in the match, hitting over .300 as a team for most of the contest. PBA's day ended against the tournament host's Clarion. PBA fought hard in the final set, but ultimately came up short, 3-0. 

PBA's Abbie Zylstra and Jayden Otto were named to the All-Tournament team.

The 'Fish host the 2022 Hyatt Place Bash at the Beach next weekend. PBA plays its home opener against St. Cloud State on Friday night at 7 p.m. before facing off against New Haven and Barton on Saturday.

Match One – PBA: 3, NU: 0

After allowing the Timberwolves to hang with them for the first half of the opening set, the Sailfish flipped the switch on Northwood. With PBA leading 15-12, the Sailfish ended the set on a 10-3 run. The run included a pair of kills from Angeleyshka Curbelo along with several unforced errors for the Timberwolves. The Sailfish set the tone with a 25-15 set win. The 'Fish hit a scorching .476 in the set.

The second set followed a similar pattern as the Timberwolves tied the Sailfish at 15 after a 4-0 run. PBA recorded another 10-3 run with kills by Zylstra, Mary Morgan Formby, and Otto which put the set away, 25-18 for PBA. Northwood finished the set with a -.132 hitting percentage.

PBA went on its run earlier in the third set. Trailing by a point early in the frame, the 'Fish rattled off a 10-2 run which included six unforced errors by the Timberwolves. The streak put the 'Fish ahead, 20-12. NU cut the deficit to six, but PBA kept the momentum with kills by Curbelo and Zylstra clinching the set, 25-18, and the 3-0 sweep.

Zylstra led PBA with nine kills, hitting .214 with six digs. Curbelo, Formby, and Anna Gregerson finished with five kills each. Gregerson went a perfect 5-for-5 in the match with a pair of blocks. Jayna Bredenberg led PBA with eight kills as libero while Otto totaled a team-high 24 assists. Northwood finished the match with 26 attacking errors, in part due to five PBA blocks. The Sailfish outhit the Timberwolves, .291-.011 in the match.

Match Two – CU: 3, PBA: 0

The efficient offense from PBA's first three matches cooled off against the hosting Clarion. Both teams entered the match undefeated on the season. The Golden Eagles held control for the majority of the first two sets. After dropping the first set, 25-15, the Sailfish had a stronger showing in the second set until Clarion ended the set on a 10-2 run to win 25-16.

The Sailfish did not go down without a fight. The third set was tightly contested as neither team could build a lead. PBA faced a threatening 21-17 deficit, but the 'Fish fought back with blocks by Gregerson, Curbelo, and Anna Beth Stokes to tie the set at 21. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they failed to complete the comeback. The Golden Eagles ended the set on a 4-0 run, ending the match on an ace and a 25-21 win in the third set.

Curbelo and Zylstra tied for a team-high two kills each. Curbelo hit an efficient .412 with one block. Otto tallied 19 assists, 15 digs, and five kills. Kaileigh Ammons totaled four kills on five attempts. PBA was outhit .299-.067 in the match.