JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team opened the season and the Edward Waters College Invitational with a win on Friday morning, a straight set victory over conference opponent Johnson & Wales. The win is the first under head coach Katie Latenser.
 
The Blue and Green hit .463 as a team and had 16 service aces in the win. Lauren Ruby led the Lady Gyrenes with 25 assist, four digs, four kills, and three aces. Lexy Smith finished with a team-high nine kills and three aces while Lexie Andric tallied six aces, five digs, and four kills.
 
In total, 12 different Lady Gyrenes recorded a kill in the match with six finishing with four or more kills.
 
Trailing 8-6 in the opening set, Ave Maria was able to shake off the nerves of their season opening match and rally off six straight points to take a 12-8 lead. The Lady Gyrenes wouldn't surrender the lead the rest of the set en route to a 25-14 opening set win.
 
The Lady Gyrenes jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the second set before going on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 11, 16-5. Another big run, 8-1, late in the set gave AMU set point at 24-7. The Blue and Green halted a four-point run by the Wildcats to take the second set 25-11.
 
Ave Maria took control of the third set early, winning nine of the sets first ten points. The Lady Gyrenes would cruise to a 25-12 third set win to complete the morning sweep of the Wildcats.
 
Ave Maria plays their second match of the EWC Invitational at 3 p.m. when they take on Florida National University.