TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University volleyball team defeated Florida College 3-0 on Friday night in a non-conference matchup for the Gyrenes.
 
Ave Maria defeated the Falcons 25-21, 25-23, 25-16 to improve to 8-8 overall. The Gyrenes return home on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. contest with Florida National.
 
A back-and-forth opening set saw the lead tied 14 times, the last at 20-20. Ave Maria finished the set with a 5-1 run to take a 1-0. The four-point-edge at the end of the set was the largest for either team in the first set.
 
In the second set, the Gyrenes built an early 14-9 lead. Florida College battled back and eventually took a 19-18 lead late in the set. With the match tied at 22, McKenna Tyson registered a kill followed by a service ace for AMU to put the Gyrenes in front 24-22. After a Florida College point, Alejandra Suarez had a kill to seal the set for the Blue and Green.
 
The Gyrenes earned the early lead in the third set but the set remained close and was tied at 13-all at the midway point.  Leading 15-14, AMU won eight straight points, three via Victoria Schein service aces, to take a 23-14 advantage. The Gyrenes went on to win the set 25-16.
 
Tyson led AMU with 12 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. She also had eight digs. Four Gyrenes finished with six kills. Katie Grose had 30 assists to lead AMU. Schein finished with a team-best 12 digs.