LAKELAND, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team opened its season at the Florida Southern Mocs Classic on Friday, playing a pair of matches against Augusta and Lewis.

Augusta (1-0) received votes in this week's AVCA top 25, while Lewis (2-0) entered the match and was ranked as the No. 14 team in the country. The Sailfish (0-2) started hot against the Jags, taking the first set; however, AU stormed back to win 3-1. Freshman Sydney Corbett led PBA with 11 kills against Lewis, but the Flyers earned the 3-0 win in the match. Today's matches were the first for PBA under new head coach Jeff Huebner.

"I thought we showed good progress throughout the day," Huebner said. "Sydney and Abbie did a good job growing with each match, improving decision-making, and learning what it means to play against nationally ranked competition. One of our main focuses this preseason was improved 1st contact play. Serve receive proved to be a consistency for our team which will pay off big time throughout the year. Every day our program remains committed to growth and embracing that process is critical for our long-term success. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and compete tomorrow."

The Sailfish finish their time in Lakeland with a match against American International. The match is set for a 2:30 p.m. start.

Match One – AU: 3, PBA: 1

The new-look PBA squad featured five new starts to begin the season against Augusta. The 'Fish front row made their presence felt early, recording four total blocks in the first set. The Sailfish faced an early 14-12 deficit, but some unforced errors from the Jags, and kills from Addison Chapman and Harper Stokes capped off by a solo block from Chapman put the 'Fish back in from 22-17. Kills from Abbie Zylstra and Savanna Rogers set up a set-point for PBA. Stokes and Chapman registered another block to clinch the first set for PBA, 25-18. PBA held Augusta to a .048 hitting percentage in the opening set.

The 'Fish kept their momentum in the second set, taking a quick 8-3 lead, including a pair of kills from Corbett. A 6-0 run from the Jags put August back in front 9-8. PBA answered with a 5-0 run including kills from Chapman and Kaileigh Ammons to retake the lead, 13-10. The teams traded points down the stretch with a service error from Augusta and a kill from Stokes giving the 'Fish a 22-21 lead, putting them in position to go up 2-0 in the match. Two blocks and a kill from AU put the Jags ahead 24-22. Stokes and Rogers stuffed the Jags to make it 24-23, but a kill from AU closed out the set, 25-23.

Both teams traded leads throughout the beginning of the third set. With PBA ahead 16-15, AU rattled off a 10-0 run, including three aces to win the set 25-16. The Sailfish serve receive struggled, surrendering six aces. The Jags hit a match-best .414 in the third set. The Jags' front row frustrated the Sailfish in the final set. PBA was blocked seven times throughout the set. Augusta carried its offensive efficiency through the end of the match, winning the final set 25-12.

Stokes led the Sailfish with 10 kills, hitting .286 with five blocks. Rogers and Zylstra finished with six kills each. Gabi Ashcraft led the Sailfish with 18 assists in her PBA debut. Rogers added 12 assists and four blocks to her stat line. Eduarda Dutra led PBA with 14 digs as libero.

Match Two – Lewis: 3, PBA: 0

The Sailfish looked to bounce back but faced a tough test in the form of No. 14-ranked Lewis. PBA fell behind early but hung with the Flyers through most of the first set. A kill from Guilia Santuari and some errors by Lewis cut the deficit to 20-18 down the stretch. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they came up short 25-20. PBA hit a match-best .133 in the period with three blocks.

The Flyers controlled each of the second and third sets. Lewis won the second set 25-15 before clinching the match by taking the third set 25-15. 

The Sailfish hit .129 in the match and totaled four blocks. Corbett led the squad with 11 kills, hitting .139 with three digs and a block. Zylstra totaled seven kills, hitting .238 with five digs and a block. Santuari hit a team-best .300 in the match. Rogers led the Sailfish with a team-high 19 assists and six digs. Dutra tallied a team-leading 16 digs as libero.