WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach Atlantic volleyball team (14-13, 7-9 SSC) defeated Nova Southeastern (11-17, 4-13 SSC) 3-2 on Thursday at Rubin Arena, winning by set scores of 22-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 and 15-11.
The Sailfish answered a 2-1 match deficit by taking the fourth and fifth sets. The 'Fish hit a season-high .346 as a team with 72 kills and 10 total blocks, while Nova Southeastern finished at .338 with 71 kills and nine blocks.
Leah Burlison led the Sailfish with 19 kills and 21 points while hitting .455. The 19 kills were a season high.
Juliana Imbuzeiro recorded 38 assists, six kills on seven attacks and eight digs.
Sydney Corbett finished with 13 kills, 11 digs, two service aces and 16.5 points.
Kaelynn Sims added 11 kills, hit .409 and posted a team-high six total blocks. Sims has recorded at least 11 kills in two consecutive matches.
Bergen Waitman reached 100 digs on the season, including four in the match.
"I'm really proud of our team for a very important five-set win," PBA head coach
Jeff Huebner said. Juliana was an awesome leader for us tonight, filled up the stat sheet for us and ran a top tier offense. Leah continues to show her competitiveness in our league and is improving every day. 'Fish fans were awesome, and we appreciate the support from 16 Handles. We can't wait to see everyone back Saturday!"
The Sailfish erased most of a 22-16 deficit in the first set, scoring five straight points to get within 22-21.
Kelsey Rogers started the push with a kill, and with Corbett serving, Burlison put down two kills while the 'Fish recorded two service aces. Nova Southeastern stopped the run and closed out the set, 25-22.
The Sailfish closed the second set with four straight points after Nova Southeastern tied it at 21, winning 25-21. A Nova Southeastern service error put the 'Fish ahead 22-21, and Sims and Burlison followed with kills before
Jess Horn served an ace for the final point.
The Sailfish rallied late in the third set, erasing a 19-15 deficit to tie it at 19 behind a block by Imbuzeiro and Sims, an Imbuzeiro kill and a
Lexi Berry service ace. Corbett twice answered with kills to tie the set again at 20 and 21, but Nova Southeastern finished the set 25-22 after Burlison's kill brought the 'Fish within 23-22.
The Sailfish held off Nova Southeastern late to win the fourth set 25-22, answering a four-point run that cut a 23-18 lead to 23-22. Rogers put the 'Fish at set point with a kill from Imbuzeiro, and a Nova Southeastern attack error on Waitman's serve closed the set. Earlier, kills by Imbuzeiro and Burlison and two blocks involving
Nae Jordan helped the Sailfish erase a 2-0 deficit and move in front 5-3.
The Sailfish turned a 2-1 deficit into a 6-3 lead in the fifth set, getting two kills each from Burlison and Jordan on Imbuzeiro assists during that push. The 'Fish kept Nova Southeastern from pulling even the rest of the way, with Sims adding kills for 12-7 and 14-10 before Rogers closed the 15-11 set win off another Imbuzeiro assist.
Up next, the Sailfish volleyball team hosts Lynn on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. at Rubin Arena.
