AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University volleyball team bested the Johnson & Wales Wildcats in straight sets on Wednesday night. With the victory, the Gyrenes tied the program record for wins in a season (13) and topped the program record for conference wins in a season (7).
 
Before the match, Ave Maria recognized their four seniors, Jenna Barnak, Allison Campbell, Johna Fackler, and Talia Samuels.
 
The Gyrenes got off to fast starts in all three sets. Back-to-back service aces by Katie O'Donnell capped a 5-0 run in the first set to give the Gyrenes a 5-2 lead. Johnson & Wales fought back to take the lead midway through the set and had a two-point lead, 18-16 late. Three straight points by the Gyrenes, including two kills by McKenna Tyson, gave the Blue and Green a 19-18 advantage. Tied at 19, AMU won six of the final seven points, including the final four, to take the first set 25-20.
 
The second set tilted quickly in the Gyrenes favor. Ave Maria jumped out to a 5-1 lead and maintained a three-to-four point edge for most of the set. Leading 18-14, the Blue and Green won seven straight points to get to set point, 24-14. The run was fueled by four attack errors by the Wildcats. An Alejandra Suarez kill finished off the set for the Gyrenes, 25-15.
 
AMU traded two points for one consistently in the beginning of the third set to help the Gyrenes to a 10-5 lead. Ave Maria maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third set. JWU pulled to within four late, 21-17, before three straight gave the Gyrenes match-point, 24-17. After a couple Wildcat points, Chenard's kills closed out the match, 25-19.
 
Madelyn Haut had a match-high 12 kills and a .381 hitting percentage. Chenard finished with six kills and four block assists followed by Barnak and Tyson with four kills each. Senior Samuels had three kills. Katie Grose had 31 assists to go along with three kills and four block assists. Victoria Schein had 17 digs for the Gyrenes.
 
Ave Maria concludes the regular season on Saturday when they travel to Webber International. Saturday's contest will begin at 2 p.m.
 
Regardless of Saturday's decision, AMU will be the six-seed in the upcoming TSC Tournament. AMU will play at the three-seed on Tuesday, November 12. The three-seed is still to be determined.