GULFPORT, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic beach volleyball team returned to action today as they hit the road to face fellow Sunshine State Conference opponents Eckerd and Florida Southern. The Sailfish prevailed in both matches as they downed the Tritons 4-1 and the Moccasins 5-o to even their season record at 11-11 overall.
Match 1: PBA - 4 | Eckerd - 1
The Sailfish battled with the Tritons for the second time this season and the final score line was the same as the first meeting as PBA came out on top 4-1.
Lunden Evans and
Mya Krystosek continued to play at the No. 1 position and they cruised in their match as they won in straight sets 21-9, 21-17. The lone PBA defeat came at the No. 2 position in an extended match that saw
Ashleigh Holweger and
Rebekah Machovec fall 21-14, 21-23, 19-17. The second closest match was the No. 3 battle as
Savannah DeCarlo and
Gabriella Aziz fought back from a first-set loss to win 14-21, 21-13, 15-10. The Sailfish cruised the rest of the way as
Julia Golichowski and
Natalie Skopalova came out on top at No. 4 21-9, 21-11 and the No. 5 match with
Karla Cantero and
Abigail Mason went PBA's way 21-15, 21-10.
Match 2: PBA - 5 | Florida Southern - 0Â
PBA defeated the Mocs for the third time this season in a match that was one-sided and allowed the 'Fish to change up their lineup and try new combinations. Holweger and Machovec moved up to the top pair and had no problem after the promotion as they rolled 21-11, 21-8. Aziz and DeCarlo also moved up a spot to No. 2 and won a close first set 21-19 before taking the second 21-11.
Sydney Wagner and Cesaro teamed up at the No. 5 spot and looked comfortable together as they clinched the match by winning 21-16, 21-10. Mason and Cantero stayed together at No. 4 and won 21-16, 21-15 while Golichowski and Skopalova won the No. 3 match 21-17, 21-13.
It isn't the last time these sides will see each other as all three will face off in Tampa on March 31. The Sailfish will then battle hosts Tampa and Saint Leo the following day in an all SSC two-day weekend.
