HOOVER, Ala. – No. 23 UWF (17-6, 7-0 GSC) dropped its final two matches of the South Region Crossover at the Finley Center Saturday, suffering a 3-2 loss to Eckerd and a 3-1 loss to No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic. Nadine Williams posted double-digit kills and digs in each match to lead the way for the Argos on the tournament's final day. UWF finishes the 2017 tournament 1-2. This year's All-South Region Crossover team is expected to be announced Sunday. 

Match 1: Eckerd 3, No. 23 UWF 2

UWF leapt out to a 2-0 lead vs. Eckerd (9-5, 3-4 SSC) in the first match of the day. The team got a strong performance from Williams, who would finish the match with a team-high 18 kills, in getting out to 25-20 and 25-19 wins. No. 23 UWF outhit Eckerd .186 to .140 in the first and .207 to .000 in the second, forcing 18 combined Eckerd errors while committing just ten.

Eckerd came roaring back in the third though, outhitting West Florida .200 to .171 in the set and going on a 15-11 run to gain a 22-15 advantage. Kills by Taylor Hall and Williams helped the Argos draw within 22-20 but UWF ultimately could not erase the deficit and fell 25-21. The Tritons stayed sharp in the fourth, establishing a 5-0 lead before a 5-1 run got the Argos back in it. Again Eckerd pulled away though, turning an 18-16 advantage into a final of 25-19.

With the match tied 2-2, the Argos went to their second fifth set in the last three matches. Eckerd got out to an early lead at 8-4 before three straight kills by Jordyn Poppen pulled UWF within 8-7. The team could get no closer though, as a final Tritons flurry helped them take the finale 15-10.

Williams added 20 digs to her 18 kills, notching her second double-double of the crossover. Poppen totaled 12 kills. Rachel Neblett finished with eight kills and six digs. Hall finished with 6 kills. Monique StCyr piled up 44 assists. Logan Kael chipped in 18 digs. The Argos outhit Eckerd .151 to .148 for the match.

The loss was UWF's first since falling to Florida Southern September 9 at the Colorado Premier Challenge. It snapped the team's 14-match winning streak. The loss was the second in a row the Argos have suffered vs. Eckerd at the South Region Crossover. UWF fell to Eckerd in 2016, snapping a winning streak vs. the Tritons that dated back to 2012.

Match 2: No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic 3, No. 23 UWF 1

UWF faced one of its stiffest tests of the season to close The Crossover, battling No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic (17-0, 9-0 SSC) in a clash of top-25 teams on Court 1 of the Finley Center. Palm Beach took back-to-back sets after the teams split the first two to win 3-1. Neblett, Williams and Poppen all piled up double-digit kills in the marquee matchup.

Palm Beach Atlantic took the first set 25-18 courtesy of a late 7-2 run that turned an 18-16 score into a comfortable win. Neblett had three kills and one block in the first. Morrison chipped in two blocks. The Sailfish outhit the Argos .258 to .105 in the first.

UWF bounced back in the second, hitting a scorching .444 and committing just two errors on the way to a 25-20 victory. Morrison was the star of the set, posting five kills and two blocks. The team led by as many as 8 at 18-10 and never surrendered the lead after getting out to a 5-0 lead.

Tied 1-1, the match went to its most thrilling set. The Sailfish emerged from the nail-biter with a 27-25 victory to take a 2-1 advantage. UWF built a lead of 21-16 before a 6-1 rally by Palm Beach evened the score at 22. Neblett posted four kills and two service aces but the Sailfish roared back late. The nation's fourth-ranked team sealed the match in the fourth with a closing 25-19 session. Palm Beach outhit UWF .141 to .071 in the final set.

Neblett led the Argos with 11 kills, and Poppen and Williams each finished with 10. Morrison totaled nine kills. StCyr finished with 40 assists. Logan Kael piled up 13 digs. Williams notched her second double-double of the day by adding 11 digs to her 10 kills.

The final match of the Crossover vs. No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic was UWF's sixth against a ranked opponent this year. UWF defeated No. 11 Wheeling Jesuit to begin the year and scored a win over No. 20 Tampa September 9. The match was also the Argos' fourth against a top-5 opponent this season.

The Argos next travel to Valdosta State (9-10, 4-3 GSC) Tuesday, resuming GSC play with a road test scheduled for 7:00 pm.