LAKELAND, Fla. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team (3-10, 1-7 TSC) gave Southeastern (15-2, 7-1 TSC) all they could handle in the opening two sets before fading in the third and fourth of a four set loss on Tuesday night.
 
Despite 10 kills and 10 errors in the opening set, Ave Maria hung with the Fire. AMU fell behind early in the set 13-4 but rallied back to pull within two, 17-15. The Gyrenes weren't able to get closer than two in a 25-21 first set lose.
 
In the second set, AMU won seven of the first 10 points to take the early advantage. AMU won five of six point a few minutes later to maintain their lead, 17-12. With Ave Maria leading 24-19, Southeastern won four straight points to close within one before AMU finished off the set with a kill by Natalia De Leon.
 
Southeastern controlled the final two sets, winning 25-12 and 25-9 to close out the match. The Fire had 27 kills to four errors over the final two sets while AMU had 13 kills and 15 errors in set three and four.
 
Lauren Ruby led AMU with 11 kills. She also had 12 assists and nine digs. Kaedi Gillman added six kills and two blocks. Katie O'Donnell also had six kills and two services aces. Cassie Davis had 13 assists to lead the Gyrenes. O'Donnell, Alejandra Suarez, and Daniela Jaramillo all tied for the team-high in digs with 12.
 
Ave Maria returns to action on Thursday when they travel to Hialeah, Fla., to take on Florida National at 7 p.m.