WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Eckerd volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to complete a thrilling reverse sweep of Palm Beach Atlantic, claiming a 3-2 victory (22-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17, 15-9) on Thursday evening on the road.
The opening set featured a competitive battle between the two sides. Eckerd hit .366 with 18 kills, but Palm Beach Atlantic edged the Tritons 25-22 to take the early advantage. The Sailfish carried their momentum into the second frame, building an 11-6 advantage before Eckerd rallied to even the score at 15-15. The Tritons later took a 20-17 lead following a four-point run highlighted by a Jaelynn Tunley ace, but Palm Beach Atlantic answered with eight of the final nine points to claim the set 25-21.
Facing elimination, Eckerd fell behind 11-6 early in the third set before battling back to even the score at 12-12. The Sailfish regained control with a 19-14 advantage, but the Tritons responded with five straight points, highlighted by a Hayden Nash kill and a pair of blocks, to tie the frame at 19-19. Palm Beach Atlantic later reached match point at 24-20, but Eckerd stormed back with six unanswered points behind Lilli Weber's serve. Natalie Aniol delivered the set-winning kill to keep the Tritons alive with a 26-24 victory.
Eckerd carried its momentum into the fourth set, using a four-point run to build a 9-5 advantage. The Tritons extended their lead to 16-11 following another four-point stretch, using a Kaitlyn Dohs ace and a block from Aniol and Tunley during the surge. Eckerd closed the frame with four consecutive points, including back-to-back kills from Dohs, to take the set 25-17 and force a decisive fifth frame.
The Tritons wasted little time establishing control in the final set, opening with four unanswered points behind kills from Tunley, Seiler Hruska, and Aniol. Eckerd extended its advantage to 7-3 following a Tunley ace and maintained the lead throughout the frame. Leading 12-9, the Tritons closed the match with three straight points, capped by a Nash kill to win 15-9.
Nash led Eckerd with 19 kills on a .389 hitting percentage while adding five blocks. Hruska followed with 12 kills, 11 digs, and four blocks, while Aniol contributed nine kills on a .421 clip and a match-high eight blocks.
Sydney Williams anchored the defense with 30 digs and three service aces, while Dohs added 24 digs and six kills. Weber directed the offense with 49 assists, seven digs, and three kills. Tunley chipped in seven kills, four blocks, and two aces.
