DAVIE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team faced off against SSC foe Nova Southeastern on Tuesday.
The Sailfish looked to avenge last month's matchup with the Sharks, which ended in a reverse sweep. PBA dropped the first set but battled back to take a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they could not close out the Sharks as NSU cameback to win the match 3-2.
The PBA middles led the attack.
Harper Stokes led the Sailfish with 15 kills and three blocks, hitting .375.
Kaileigh Ammons totaled 14 kills, hitting .429 with four blocks.
Abbie Zylstra recorded nine kills with two blocks.
Jayden Otto had a team-high 39 assists with 10 digs.
Payton Ahrenstorff scooped up 20 digs with four assists.
NSU kept the Sailfish at bay to start the match, hitting a match-best .395 in the opening set. The Sharks stayed on top throughout the first set, taking it 25-16.
The Sailfish regrouped for the second set, and it showed on the scoreboard. PBA held a 16-9 lead midway through the set. The Sharks fought back to tie the set at 18. Both teams traded points down the stretch before the set was knotted up at 24. Stokes came through in the clutch for PBA, notching a pair of kills to clinch the set, 26-24.
PBA's attack cruised in the third set. The 'Fish hit a match-best .375 in the frame. A 6-0 run late in the set, including three kills and a block from Ammons gave the 'Fish a 24-15 lead. The Sailfish held on to win 25-17 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Sailfish kept the momentum going to start the fourth set. Kills from Zylstra put PBA ahead 14-7. Two PBA service errors and two blocks shifted the tone of the set, and the Sharks came back to take a 16-15 lead. The teams traded points until late in the set when NSU ended the set on a 5-2 run to win the set 25-22 and force a fifth set.
The Sailfish benefited from some unforced errors by NSU in the fifth set, but the hosts closed out the set 15-12 to win the match 3-2.
NSU outhit the Sailfish .241 - .174. PBA totaled eight blocks and five service aces in the match.
PBA returns home for a big test against No. 2-ranked Tampa on Friday. The match at Rubin Arena takes place at 7 p.m.
