SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team began its weekend with a road matchup at SSC foe Saint Leo.

The Sailfish were rolling early in the match, taking a 2-0 lead after a dominant second set. PBA held a 23-21 lead in the third set with a chance to sweep the Lions, but Saint Leo stayed alive. The hosts kept the momentum through the fourth set, forcing a fifth set. The Sailfish led 14-12, nearly clinching the match, but the Lions ended the match on a 4-0 run to win 16-14 and clinch the 3-2 win.

Kaileigh Ammons led the Sailfish with 12 kills, hitting .214 with five blocks. Sydney Corbett tallied 11 kills with seven aces and seven digs. Kelsey Rogers recorded six kills, six digs, and six blocks. Abbie Zylstra hit a team-best .312 with six kills and four digs. Savana Rogers recorded 12 digs and five kills. Harper Stokes totaled four kills and four blocks. Jayna Bredenberg notched 19 digs as libero. Gabi Ashcraft led the Sailfish with 25 assists.

"Tough road loss in a match where we controlled the majority of the match either earning or giving points," PBA head coach Jeff Huebner said. "It is clear that when we execute our systems and compete together, we can perform with excellence against any team in the league."

The Sailfish had a chance to put the match away in the third set. A 6-0 run from the Sailfish, including three kills from Ammons and two aces from Corbett, made it 23-21 PBA. Two kills by the Lions and a pair of unforced attack errors by the Sailfish allowed SLU to stay alive with a 25-23 win.

After Saint Leo took the fourth, 25-20, the match moved to a deciding fifth set. A PBA service error, a pair of Lions kills, and a SLU ace have the hosts a 9-3 lead. The Sailfish answered with a 7-1 run, including three kills by S. Rogers to tie the set at 10. A solo block from Ammons and a kill by Anna Beth Stokes later in the set gave the Sailfish a 14-12 lead with a chance to clinch the match. A 4-0 run by the Lions, including a pair of kills and two attack errors by the 'Fish, allowed Saint Leo to win the set 16-14 and steal the match, 3-2.

PBA was outhit by SLU .112-.091 in the match. The Sailfish front row finished with 16 blocks. The 'Fish recorded 12 aces in the match and only allowed two by the Lions.

"As we continue to learn to trust the process and stay brave during matches, we will continue to see improved results throughout the year," Huebner said.

The Sailfish play a road match at Eckerd on Saturday. The match is set for 4 p.m.