WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball returned to the win column on Saturday against Rollins.
The Sailfish (5-5, 1-3 SSC) snapped a three-match skid with a three-set sweep against the Tars (3-8, 1-2 SSC) for PBA's first Sunshine State Conference win of the season. The 'Fish ended their road trip on a good note before returning home to play Nova Southeastern on Tuesday.
Kaileigh Ammons turned in another impressive performance. She led the team with 11 kills, a scorching .625 hitting percentage, four aces, and four blocks. PBA's other middle hitter
Anna Gregerson also found success, hitting .400 in the match.
Kayla Matthews totaled 10 kills, hitting .381 with six digs.
Abbie Zylstra finished with nine kills and two digs.
Mary Morgan Formby added seven kills and five blocks, hitting .235.
Jayden Otto recorded 38 assists, six digs, and two aces.
Lauren Cummings tallied eight digs as libero.
After playing from behind early in the first set, the Sailfish began to find their groove. A service ace for the Tars kickstarted a 5-0 run for the 'Fish, allowing PBA to take a 13-11 lead. Although Rollins continued to hang around, the Sailfish held the lead for the rest of the set. A kill from Gregerson clinched a 25-22 set win to open the match.
A kill from Matthews and several unforced errors by the Tars allowed PBA to gain some distance in the middle of the second set. Later in the set, a kill from Zylstra made it a 22-16 Sailfish lead. The Tars did not go away quietly. A 7-2 run coming out of a Tars timeout made it a 24-23 PBA lead. The Tars nearly stole the set, but Formby put it away with a kill to win it, 25-23. The Sailfish hit a match-bets .400 in the set.
The third set was tied at 10 apiece before the Sailfish began to pull away. A 9-3 run included a trio of service aces for the 'Fish allowed PBA to take a 19-13 lead and force a Rollins timeout. The Tars notched the first point out of the break, but
Angeleyshka Curbelo helped put the set away with a pair of kills to ignite a 5-0 run that gave the 'Fish a 24-14 lead. The Tars responded with five consecutive points, but it was too little too late for the hosts. A service error from Rollins clinched a 25-19 set win and 3-0 sweep for the 'Fish. PBA hit an impressive .367 in the set.
PBA outhit the Tars, .296 - .286 in the match. PBA recorded a 63 percent side-out percentage compared to 54 percent for Rollins. The Tars only recorded four aces compared to eight service errors in the match.
The Sailfish host Nova Southeastern on Tuesday night. The Match at Rubin Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.