MARIETTA, Ga. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team opened their 2017 season on Friday afternoon at the Life Invitaitonal in Marietta, Ga. The Lady Gyrenes fell in both of their day one matches against Faulkner and #RV Mobile.
 
In their first match of the day, the Lady Gyrenes went back-and-forth with Faulkner in the first set and held a 15-14 lead midway through the set. With AMU ahead 17-16, Faulkner went on a four-point run to take a 20-17 advantage and went on to take the set 25-20.
 
Faulkner used a 10-1 run early in the second and five-point spurt later in the set to jump out to a 18-7 lead. The Eagles went on to win the set 25-13. Faulkner closed out the game in the third with a 25-19 set win.
 
Freshman Erica Chenard led AMU with seven kills in the opening game. Lauren Ruby and Savannah Stanton each tallied five kills. Ruby also finished with 15 assists. Hannah Presson and Daniela Jaramillo each recorded a team-best 10 digs.
 
In the Lady Gyrenes' second match of the day, the University of Mobile, who is receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll, topped Ave Maria in three sets. Mobile hit. 437 as a team with nine aces to take the match, 25-14, 25-11, 25-7.
 
Bre Holder led AMU in the second match with four kills. Chenard and Stanton each tallied three kills. Ruby finished with eight assists while Jaramillo tallied six digs.
 
Ave Maria continues play in the Life Invitational tomorrow when they take on host Life and Martin Methodist (Tenn.). The Lady Gyrenes' first match of the day will be at 1 p.m.