AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team completed a three-match homestand with a defeat on Friday night, falling in straight sets to the Bobcats of Saint Thomas University. The Gyrenes kept the score close in all three sets with the Bobcats, who are undefeated in Sun Conference action. The Bobcats claimed a 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 win.

In the first set, the Bobcats led for the majority of the action, but could not extend their lead any larger than four points until the closing moments of the set. Ave Maria was within two points, 19-17, after a Erica Chenard kill, but the visitors were able to record six of the final eight points in the set, capped off by a Carli Batsel kill. 

The second set saw the Bobcats claim control early, scoring the first four points in a set they would never trail in. A 5-0 run for the Bobcats turned a 7-5 lead into a 12-5 advantage, and AMU was never able to close the gap any closer than five points. The second set was the least effective for both teams, as Ave Maria and St. Thomas both posted their lowest attack percentages in the middle set.

Friday night's final set was similar to the second, as the Bobcats jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never fell behind. AMU never claim any closer than four points in the final set of the night, which was ended on a kill by Victoria Philpot.

Bre Holder was Ave Maria's offensive leader, logging a tied-for-game-high ten kills. Erica Chenard and Savannah Stanton each added seven kills. Lauren Ruby recorded her eighth double-double of the season, recording 17 assists and 13 digs. Fellow setter Cassie Davis nearly tallied her first career double-double with 15 assists and nine digs. Whitney Battoe led the way for St. Thomas with ten kills and 21 digs, both team-highs. 

Ave Maria returns to the court on Wednesday night against Southeastern University in Lakeland. It is one of three road games on the schedule next week for the Gyrenes, who play their final home game of the year on November 1 against Warner University.