ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of West Alabama volleyball team opened the 2023 South Region Crossover with Palm Beach Atlantic University on Friday from the Game Point Events Center. UWA forced a deciding fifth set, but PBA took the match, 3-2.

The South Region Crossover features all 11 teams from the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) and all 12 teams from the Gulf South Conference (GSC). To even the playing field, Flagler College, a member of the Peach Belt Conference (PBC), is also participating to even the playing field.

The Tigers fall to 4-18 on the season, while the Sailfish improve their overall record to 8-11.

In the opening set, UWA had the advantage with the 16-14 score, but PBA won 11 of the final 14 points, including the final four points.

The Tigers, despite putting up eight kills in the set, trailed 20-16 and started the comeback. After a couple of mistakes by the Sailfish, Cloe Bonvillain posted three aces, including on back-to-back serves to tie the game at 20. Following an Ally Craig kill to give the Tigers the lead, Bonvillain added another ace.

West Alabama needed just one point to even the match at a set apiece after a Jaida Alvin kill, but a PBA kill forced the set to "lingering death", meaning you have to win by two points.

UWA saw back-to-back attack errors to give the Tigers a chance, but Taylor Nelson kept the set alive with a kill to even the score again at 27.

On the next rally, the Sailfish committed their eighth attack error of the set to make it 28-27. With Kenzie Nalls behind the service line, she sent the ball to Abbie Zylstra who mishandled the reception to give the Tigers the 29-27 victory.

The third set saw the momentum shift to Palm Beach Atlantic, as they used six aces and eight kills to cruise to a 25-9 victory and take the 2-1 match lead.

UWA came back strong in the fourth set. Trailing 13-9, they rallied together a 10-4 run to flip the score to 19-17, but PBA flipped it right back with five of the next six points to lead 22-20.

The see-saw battle went back to the side of West Alabama, winning four straight points after kills by Johanna Martin and Berfin Mertcan. A bad set by Anna Beth Stokes gave the Tigers set point, 24-22, but the Sailfish forced lingering death again with a kill and an ace.

UWA did not waste any time clinching the set. After a service error by Kaileigh Ammons forced the side-out, Jaida Alvin's spike forced the deciding fifth set.

Ahead 3-2 in the final frame, the Tigers saw the match slip away with eight of the next nine points to the Sailfish thanks to three straight aces by Ammons en route to the 15-7 victory.

Ally Craig missed her career-high in digs with 16 and added a double-double with 10 kills. Jaida Alvin led the Tigers with 18.5 points on 13 kills, four service aces and three assisted blocks.

Berfin Mertcan added 28 assists, while Cloe Bonvillain added seven digs and four aces.

Abbie Zylstra led the Sailfish with 14 kills, while Anna Beth Stokes recorded a triple-double with 16 assists, 11 kills and 10 digs.  

UWA will next play two matches on Saturday, taking on Barry University and Flagler College to wrap up the crossover event in Orlando.