WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team played its final home match of the season on Saturday afternoon against the Lions from Saint Leo University.
The Sailfish looked to end the season on a strong note. PBA defeated Eckerd in a grueling five-set match on Friday evening. The 'Fish faced a quick turnaround against a Saint Leo team that was just below the Sailfish in the SSC standings. PBA kept its momentum rolling from the night before, sweeping the Lions thanks to strong performances from
Mary Morgan Formby and
Anna Beth Stokes.
Formby led PBA with 12 kills, hitting .259. A. Stokes recorded 11 kills, hitting .333 with eight digs, and three blocks.
Abbie Zylstra and
Harper Stokes added nine kills each. Zylstra hit .149 with nine digs. H. Stokes hit an efficient .438 with three blocks.
Jayden Otto totaled 14 assists with 14 digs and two blocks.
Payton Ahrenstorff tallied nine digs with eight assists as libero.
Formby helped get the Sailfish ahead early in the first set. She was responsible for six of PBA's first 10 points, helping the 'Fish build a 10-3 lead. The Sailfish kept the Lions at bay for most of the set. Kills from Zylstra and H. Stokes gave PBA a 20-14 lead. A ball-handling error from SLU ended a 25-19 win for PBA in the opening set.
The second set consisted of several lead changes. A 5-1 run in the middle of the set with three straight blocks by the Lions gave the visitors a 19-16 lead. Saint Leo held its lead, holding a 22-20 advantage as the set wound down. Kills from A. Stokes and H. Stokes followed by an attack error put the 'Fish back ahead, 23-22. After a SLU kill tied the set at 23, a service error and a big kill from Zylstra allowed PBA to steal the set, 25-23.
After dropping the first four points of the third set, PBA rattled off an 8-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. A 9-3 run from SLU later in the set, but the visitors back in front 13-11. A block from H. Stokes and Otto ignited an 8-2 run that put the 'Fish ahead 20-15. The Lions battled back to cut the deficit to two, but they failed to complete the comeback. Kills from Ammons and H. Stokes put the exclamation point on a 25-20 set win for PBA.
The Sailfish offense outhit the Lions .297 - .148 in the match. PBA's serve receive held SLU to four aces throughout the match.
PBA hits the road to face Barry on Tuesday. The match in Miami Shores, Fla. takes place at 7 p.m.
