HIALEAH, Fla. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team defeated Florida National in straight sets on Thursday night in their final non-conference game of the season. The Gyrenes won 25-16, 25-19, 25-13.
 
Ave Maria hit .281 on the night with 37 kills to 12 attack errors. The Conquistadors hit .062 with 22 kills and 16 errors.
 
Kaedi Gillman and Katie O'Donnell each tallied 10 kills to lead AMU. Gillman also had a team-best three blocks while O'Donnell had four service aces. Alejandra Suarez finished with 17 digs. O'Donnell and Lauren Ruby each added 10 digs. Cassie Davis finished with a team-best 17 assists.
 
In the opening set, AMU led from the start before Florida National tied the set at 13-13. Ave Maria responded with five straight points to take an 18-13 advantage. Leading 20-16, the Gyrenes won the final five points of the set on Gillman's serve to take a 1-0 set lead.
 
Back-to-back service aces by O'Donnell early in the second set gave the Gyrenes a 5-3 edge. Leading 8-7, Ave Maria won seven of the next eight points to take a 15-8 advantage. After a Conquistadors rally got them within three, Ave Maria rebounded to take the set 25-19.
 
Early five point runs and four point runs led AMU to an 11-6 advantage in the third set. With the Gyrenes ahead 17-13, the Blue and Green won the final eight points Davis' serve to close out the set and the match. Gillman had two kills in the final three points to finish off the Conquistadors.
 
Ave Maria returns to action on Wednesday when they host St. Thomas at 7 p.m.