WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team concluded the Hyatt Place Bash at the Beach on Saturday with matches against West Liberty and Walsh.

After defeating Cedarville in a grueling five-set match on Friday night, PBA had a quick turnaround against the West Liberty Hilltoppers. PBA went the distance against the Hilltoppers but came up short in another five-set match. The 'Fish ended the day with a contest against Walsh. PBA came back from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth set, but the PBA comeback fell short, losing 3-2.

"Tough matches today for our group," PBA head coach Jeff Huebner said. "Kaileigh [Ammons] was fantastic all day, her demeanor and approach to competitiveness kept us in the matches today. "

PBA hits the road next weekend for its final nonconference matches of the season. The team heads to Montgomery, Alabama, to compete in the Warhawk Invitational hosted by Auburn Montgomery. PBA plays matches against the host and Shorter to begin the tournament on Friday with the first match starting at 10:00 a.m.

"We loved having Atlantic Christian School, some Alumni and so many fans fill the Fish Tank all weekend," Huebner said. "I can't wait to see everyone back in Rubin in just a couple of matches!"

Match One – WLU: 3, PBA: 2

After Friday night's marathon of a match, the Sailfish had a slow start to begin their match against West Liberty. PBA fell behind 13-7 in the first set, in large part due to unforced errors. The Sailfish battled back with a 10-1 run to take their first lead of the set, 17-14. With PBA leading 23-21, the 'Fish were positioned to put the set away, but three unforced errors allowed the Hilltoppers to steal the set, 26-24.

The Sailfish got back on track in the second set. A 9-1 run in the middle of the frame, including a pair of blocks and a kill by Addison Chapman made it 21-14 PBA. West Liberty stormed back to make it 24-23 down the stretch, but a kill by Giulia Santuari closed out the set for PBA. The 'Fish kept the momentum going in the second set. PBA hit a match-high .333 in the third set to win dominantly, 25-12. 

WLU started the fourth set on a 10-0 run, but the Sailfish came back to tie the set at 16. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, the comeback came up short, dropping the set 25-22 to force a fifth set. The trio of Harper Stokes, Abigail Zylstra, and Sydney Corbett built an early lead in the final set for PBA. The Sailfish led 12-10, but a pair of blocks and three kills by the Hilltoppers led to a 15-12 win for WLU to clinch the match.

Zylstra led PBA with 12 kills. Anna Beth Stokes notched a team-high 30 assists, 15 digs, seven kills, and five blocks. Corbett and H. Stokes tallied seven kills each. H. Stokes added four blocks to her stat line while hitting a team-best .357. Jayna Bredenberg totaled 19 digs as libero.

Match Two – WU: 3, PBA: 2

The Sailfish fired on all cylinders in the first set against Walsh. The Cavs hit -.034 in the set as the Sailfish front row made their presence felt with four total blocks in the set. A tough PBA serve led to six aces and threw off the Walsh attack, leading to good opportunities for the 'Fish on offense. PBA hit .320 in the set to win 25-14.

PBA had a chance to take a commanding lead in the match, leading the second set 22-20 after kills from Chapman and Kaileigh Ammons. Unfortunately for PBA, an ace and two unforced errors by PBA allowed Walsh to steal the set, 25-23. Walsh had its best set of the match on offense in the third set. The Cavs posted their best hitting percentage of the match to take the third set, 25-21.

The 'Fish bounced back with their most efficient set of the match. PBA hit a match-best .393 in the set, controlling most of the set and winning 25-17 to stay alive and force a fifth set. The Sailfish faced a 10-7 deficit in the fifth set, but a 5-0 run, including two kills and a solo block from H. Stokes, put PBA back in front 12-10. The 'Fish couldn't hang on, as Walsh ended the match on a 5-0 run, including three kills, a block, and an ace. The Cavs won the set 15-12 and clinched the match 3-2.

Ammons turned in an impressive performance, leading PBA with 13 kills, hitting a scorching .445 and nine total blocks. Zylstra added 10 kills with 13 digs and three blocks. Santuari and Corbett tallied nine kills each with Corbett adding 12 digs. A. Stokes led the' Fish with 31 assists, 15 digs, and two blocks. Bredenberg recorded a team-high 16 digs.