FAIRMONT, W.V. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team began the 2025 campaign with a pair of matches against the University of Virginia-Wise and Fairmont State.
The Sailfish started the day and the season on a strong note, taking down the Cavs with a 3-0 sweep. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, PBA came up short against the hosting Fairmont State University, 3-1.
"[It was a] Learning experience today, PBA head coach Jeff Huebner said. "It was definitely a story of standards for our program, what is our focus and execution requirement and how committed are we to those things. When we played within our program, we controlled both matches and clearly can win games. Sydney [Corbett] had a great day from the service line and really changed the matches for us a couple times."
PBA plays a pair of matches on Saturday against Elizabeth City State and Slippery Rock. The first match of the day is set for 10 a.m.

Match One – PBA: 3, UVA-Wise: 0

The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team swept the University of Virginia's College at Wise 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 in a neutral site matchup on Friday at Joe Retton Arena. The Sailfish dominated the serving game with 12 aces compared to the Cavs' eight. PBA also posted a .298 hitting percentage, outpacing UVA Wise's .129, to secure the victory in straight sets.
 
Harper Stokes led the team with 10 kills and contributed two block assists. Sydney Corbett made a significant impact from the service line, recording seven aces over three sets. Savanna FauntLeRoy facilitated the offense with 29 assists while adding three service aces. Kelsey Rogers bolstered the team's defense with four block assists and added six kills.
 
The Sailfish opened the first set with a commanding performance, securing a 25-15 victory against the Cavs. Kaley Board and Rachel Smith contributed early with key plays, while FauntLeRoy's setup skills were crucial throughout, assisting on multiple kills including those by Stokes and Rogers. FauntLeRoy also delivered two service aces during a late five-point run that sealed the set for Palm Beach Atlantic.
 
FauntLeRoy set the tone early in the second set with multiple assists, keeping the Sailfish competitive against Wise's initial surge. Despite falling behind 4-0, Palm Beach Atlantic rallied as Corbett sparked a critical run with consecutive service aces, contributing to a turnaround that erased a 19-14 deficit. Stokes delivered the final kill, capping off a remarkable comeback with a 25-19 victory in the set.
 
The 'Fish opened the third set with a decisive kill by Rogers, assisted by FauntLeRoy, setting the tone for a competitive frame. The team capitalized on a series of attack errors by the Cavs, building a 5-1 lead. Despite a mid-set rally by UVA Wise, which included back-to-back service aces by Serina Petersen, Palm Beach Atlantic responded with key plays from Stokes and Lexi Berry. Tied at 22, Rogers and Berry delivered critical kills, with Berry's final strike securing a 25-22 victory in the set.
 
Match Two – FSU: 3, PBA: 1

Fairmont State University defeated PBA in four sets, 25-19, 25-15, 24-26, 25-22. Despite a strong third set performance from the Sailfish to stay in the match, the Falcons secured the victory with a solid offensive effort, tallying 56 kills to the 'Fish's 51. FSU also outperformed in digs, recording 78 compared to Palm Beach Atlantic's 68, contributing to its overall defensive strength.
 
Corbett led the offense with 13 kills and added four service aces over four games, contributing a total of 19 points. FauntLeRoy facilitated the team's attack by recording 39 assists, while also contributing four kills with a .400 hitting percentage. Maggie Patterson was pivotal in defense, collecting 23 digs to help stabilize the backcourt. Stokes made her presence felt at the net with five total blocks and added eight kills in the four games.
 
The Sailfish started the first set with a promising kill by FauntLeRoy, setting an early tone. Despite several scoring exchanges and a notable service ace from Patterson at 20-17, FSU maintained a slight edge. Contributions from Stokes and Board kept the 'Fish competitive, but the Falcons ultimately secured the set 25-19 after a decisive kill by McKenzi Martin.
 
In the second set, PBA faced a challenging start but managed to keep Fairmont State within striking distance. The set began with a series of errors, but Corbett found her rhythm, securing crucial points with two consecutive kills, narrowing the gap to 7-5. Despite a block by Board and Rogers at 8-10, FSU extended its lead on a 6-2 run, bringing the score to 16-10. Stokes and Corbett combined for a block at 11-15, briefly shifting the momentum, but the Falcons capitalized on Palm Beach Atlantic's errors to close the set 25-15.
 
The 'Fish opened the third set by establishing an early lead, with Rogers securing the first point with a kill, assisted by FauntLeRoy. The team maintained momentum with Sofia Augusto and Corbett contributing crucial kills, while Berry added a service ace to push the score to 4-1. Despite a late rally from Fairmont State, tying the score at 24-24 after consecutive blocks against Rogers, PBA regained control. FauntLeRoy and Rogers collaborated efficiently to close the set, capturing the final two points and securing a 26-24 victory.
 
The fourth set began with Palm Beach Atlantic taking the lead, as Corbett's early kill helped establish an advantage. Despite some back-and-forth scoring, including notable kills from Augusto and Stokes, Fairmont State managed to pull ahead with a 6-2 run, making the score 17-13. The Sailfish fought back to close the gap, highlighted by a service ace from Corbett and a key block from Stokes and FauntLeRoy. However, FSU's consistent attack, including decisive kills from Martin, secured the set with a 25-22 win.