JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team finished in first place at the 2015 Edward Waters Invitational after completing a 4-0 weekend by defeating Tougaloo College 3-1 late this afternoon. The Lady Gyrenes improve to 5-1 on the season.
 
Game Recap
 

• Tougaloo jumped out to a 1-0 set lead after taking a hard-fought first set 27-25. The Lady Gyrenes held off two set points before having their own opportunity to take the set at 25-24 but weren't able to convert. Tougaloo took the final three points of the set for a 27-25 final.
• The Blue and Green didn't take long to respond, sprinting out to a 10-4 lead in the second set. AMU cruised the rest of the way, eventually taking the set 25-14 to even the match at 1-1. After 10 errors in the opening set, AMU committed seven in the second while taking advantage of nine Tougaloo errors.
• Tied 6-6, Ave Maria scored five straight points in the third set to take an 11-6 advantage and forcing Tougaloo to call a timeout. Tougaloo kept the Ave Maria lead to a few points before the Lady Gyrenes went on a seven point run to take a 24-15 lead. AMU went on to take the set 25-16.
• The Lady Gyrenes fell behind early in the fourth set, 5-1, but were able to slowly chip away at the Tougaloo lead. Still trailing by three, 13-10, Ave Maria went on an 8-0 run on Lauren Ruby's serve to take an 18-13 advantage. Marie Mendez and Bre Holder each had three kills during the run. The Blue and Green finished the set by taking seven of the final eight points to take the set 25-16.

 
Stat Leaders
 

• Lexy Smith and Bre Holder each recorded season-bests in kills with 19 and 12, respectively.
• Hannah Wurster recorded a game-high six blocks.
• Lauren Ruby (27) and Veronika Garcia (23) led the Blue and Green in assists.
• Jessica Schein and Monique Rivers finished with double-figure digs with 14 and 10, respectively. Lauren Ruby added nine digs for the Lady Gyrenes.

 
Up Next
 

• The Lady Gyrenes return to action next weekend when they travel to Lake Wales for the Warner Labor Day Invitational. The Blue and Green will face Central Methodist (Mo.), Florida National, and Dickinson State (N.D.).