FAIRMONT, W.V. – The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team concluded its first tournament of the season with matches against Elizabeth City State and Slippery Rock on Saturday.
 
After splitting the first day of the Fairmont State Classic, the Sailfish picked up a pair of wins. The 'Fish started the day with a decisive 3-0 win over the Vikings, followed by another sweep against Slippery Rock later in the afternoon. Sydney Corbett and Harper Stokes were both named to the all-tournament team for their performances this weekend.
 
"Two clean matches today for our program thanks to a really good team mindset," PBA head coach Jeff Huebner said. "Savanna FauntLeRoy had her best match as a Fish today really creating improved connections and balance with Nae, Rachel and Harper in the second match. As a staff we are learning how to utilize a team that has so many great players. Brighten [Sedmack] and Renee [Direny] both had a great start to their freshmen campaigns today. A good weekend for our program, with a lot of learning and a lot to learn. We are looking forward to getting back in the gym to train and improve again this week."
 
The 'Fish hit the road again next weekend, traveling to Valdosta, Georgia, for four more matches at the Valdosta State University Fall Tournament. PBA faces off against Georgia College and Valdosta State on Friday with the matches set to take place at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
 
Match One – PBA: 3, Elizabeth City State: 0
 
In their first match against Elizabeth City State, the Sailfish won decisively with scores of 25-17, 25-23, 25-15. Palm Beach Atlantic displayed a powerful offense, achieving a .252 hitting percentage with 44 kills, while limiting the Vikings to a .100 hitting percentage and 28 kills. A standout feature of the match was the 'Fish's formidable blocking, totaling 10 team blocks compared to Elizabeth City State's five.
 
Stokes was a key player for PBA, recording five total blocks along with five kills at an impressive .714 hitting percentage. Kelsey Rogers matched Stokes defensively, also contributing five blocks and six kills. Savanna FauntLeRoy orchestrated the offense effectively, amassing 31 assists, while Kaley Board added eight kills and eight digs.
 
The Sailfish took an early lead in the first set, highlighted by Corbett's kill from Maggie Patterson's assist. Rogers maintained momentum with critical kills, and FauntLeRoy sealed the opening set with a decisive kill for a 25-17 win. The second set saw tense exchanges, but the Sailfish rallied from a 9-15 deficit to take the set 25-23, thanks to a pivotal service streak from Savanna Rogers. The third set showcased PBA's rhythm, with Board and Stokes contributing key kills, leading to a commanding 25-15 finish.

Match Two – PBA: 3, Slippery Rock: 0
 
In their second match against Slippery Rock University, the Sailfish again demonstrated their prowess, winning 25-18, 25-22, 25-16. PBA was dominant at the net with 11 blocks, outpacing The Rock's six, and featured a strong serving performance with six aces against SRU's five.
 
Patterson excelled on defense, recording 16 digs, while Stokes added eight blocks (one solo and seven assists) to her tally. K. Rogers was efficient offensively, achieving seven kills on 11 attempts for a hitting percentage of .455. FauntLeRoy continued her stellar play, facilitating the offense with 29 assists, while also contributing four kills and two service aces.
 
The first set against Slippery Rock was characterized by a strong start from the Sailfish, who closed it out at 25-18 despite some service errors. The second set featured a back-and-forth battle, but PBA's 6-0 run late in the set, fueled by Patterson's service ace and SRU's attack errors, allowed them to secure a hard-fought 25-22 win. In the third set, the Sailfish capitalized on errors from The Rock and maintained their momentum, finishing with a score of 25-16, highlighted by contributions from Brighten Sedmack and Erin Guffin.