AVE MARIA, Fla. --- After dropping the first set, Ave Maria won the next two sets before Florida National rallied to take the fourth and fifth sets to win the match 3-2. The Lady Gyrenes drop to 8-12 on the season.
 
The Blue and Green return to conference play on Wednesday, Oct. 26, when they welcome Southeastern to Tom Golisano Field House for a 7 p.m. tilt.
 
Ave Maria and Florida National went back-and-forth in the opening set before a six-point run by the Conquistadors gave them a 23-16 advantage. Florida National went on to win the set 25-20. Ave Maria would take the next two sets in convincing fashion, 25-17 and 25-14, to take a 2-1 set lead. The fourth set would go the way of the Conquistadors 25-19 to even the match at 2-2.
 
In the fifth set, Florida National jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before a four-point spurt by the Lady Gyrenes put AMU ahead 6-5. With the fifth set tied at 10, Florida National won four-straight points to earn their first match point. The Blue and green fought off one match point before Florida National closed out the match 15-11.
 
Lauren Ruby led the Lady Gyrenes with 39 assists and 18 digs. She also had four kills and two solo blocks. Lexy Smith had 15 kills while Hannah Wurster added 14 kills.
 
Jessica Schein (13), Nina Parlapiano (11), and Lexie Andric (11) each finished with double-digit digs.