WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Barry University’s volleyball team tested No. 22 Palm Beach Atlantic before succumbing, 26-24, 24-26, 25-12, 25-17, Wednesday night.
Barry’s win in the second set marked just the fifth set the Sailfish dropped all season. But the unbeaten Sailfish turned it up a notch in the third set, and Barry could not steal another set.
The Sailfish raced out to an 11-2 lead on Melissa Buckingham’s ace in the third set. Barry sub Amanda Brill’s dig and assist set up Jayla Trombley for a kill to pull the Buccaneers within 15-9. But the Bucs couldn’t get any closer the rest of the way as the Sailfish took a 2-1 lead in the match.
In the fourth set, Ivana Didanovic’s kill helped the Bucs cut PBA’s lead to 10-8. A Barry attack error gave the Sailfish a 15-9 lead before a Bucs timeout. Kristina Boncheva’s kill cut the deficit to 15-11. Tashalyn Begon’s putaway kept the Bucs within four, 18-14. But the Sailfish closed it out to stay unbeaten.
In the first set, Barry used a big block from Katie Dooley and Jayla Trombley and then a kill by Trombley to knot the score at 22-22. Begon’s kill gave Barry a 23-22 lead, but PBA scored four of the next five points to take the opening set away from the Buccaneers.
In the second set, Barry overcame a 21-17 deficit when Begon slammed down a kill, PBA’s Katie Ballantyne committed a hitting error and Brittany Jaco ripped off an ace to pull the Bucs within 21-20. Following a Bucs setting error and two PBA errors, Barry’s Jenny Trinidad served an ace to put the Buccaneers ahead 23-22. A block by Ivana Didanovic and Begon brought the Bucs within a point of closing out the set, but the Sailfish secured the next two points to tie it, 24-24. A Sailfish setting error and kill by Trombley allowed the Bucs to win the set.
The last time PBA dropped a set was Sept. 27. Barry is only the fourth team to win a set off the Sailfish this season.
Begon and Trombley each pounded 15 kills. Begon had 11 digs and Trombley 10. Jasmine Serna had 37 assists, marking her second-highest total this season. She’s had at least 36 assists in three matches this year. Boncheva finished with a season-best 13 kills.
Barry hit .178. PBA had a .254 attack rate, marking the second-highest opponent hitting percentage against the Buccaneers this year. In the first meeting between the two teams, PBA hit .277 – the highest the Bucs have allowed.
The Buccaneers will host No. 1-ranked Tampa at 4 p.m. Saturday. Watch the match via LIVE VIDEO and follow via LIVE STATS.