The Northwest Missouri State volleyball kicked off the 2012 season going 1-1 on the first day of the Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic, knocking off Barry University in the nightcap after falling to host Palm Beach Atlantic in game one.

The Bearcats start off 1-1 on the year and will finish action at the Classic Saturday with a pair of games. Northwest will take on Saginaw Valley State at 2 p.m. before closing out tournament action against Lewis University at 5 p.m.

A combination of first game jitters and hot hitting from Palm Beach Atlantic saw the Sailfish take a 3-0 shutout in game one.

Despite a few errors in the second set the Bearcats were still able to hang with PBA falling 25-20, 25-20, 25-18. The Sailfish hit over .400 in sets one and three.

Brooke Bartosh led Northwest with eight kills as the PBA defense recorded nine blocks.

Game two was a different story for the Bearcats as they were able to find open floor space. Northwest edged out the first set before running away with the second set, 25-23, 25-12.

Barry would steal the third set 25-21 before Northwest picked up the win 25-18 in set three.

Abby Graves paced Northwest offensively with 15 kills while Tori Beckman and Mackie Keller guided the defense. Keller recorded six blocks while Beckman finished with 15 digs.

— NWMSU Sports Information —