DAYTON, Tenn. --- The Ave Maria volleyball team wrapped-up the 2019 Bryan Bash on Saturday afternoon with a pair of 3-0 losses to Bryan College and Faulkner University. AMU returns to action on Friday when they take on Florida National in Hialeah, Fla.
 
In the opener, Madelyn Haut tallied seven kills and three blocks to lead the Gyrenes. Katie Grose paced the blue and green with 16 assists while Alejandra Suarez tallied a team-best nine digs.
 
AMU had its best hitting set in the opening set, hitting .121 with 14 kills in the first. Trailing for most of the set, the Gyrenes kept within striking distance and rallied off three straight points to pull within three, 24-21, before Bryan closed out the set.
 
In the second set, Bryan came out firing and jumped out to a 9-1 lead. Bryan hit .522 with 13 kills and one error in the second to take the set 25-10.
 
The third set saw the Gyrenes in front for most of the set. With AMU ahead 13-10, Bryan scored the next four to take a 14-13 advantage. The Gyrenes responded with a five-point spurt to take a 19-16 lead late in the set. Bryan took 12 of the final 15 points to win the set 25-22 and close out the match.
 
Against Faulkner, AMU had its best striking match of the season, hitting .122 over three sets. The 37 kills was the most this season for the Gyrenes in a match. Haut and Flavia Rusterholz each finished in double-figures for kills with 11 and 10, respectively. Grose (14) and Caitlyn Monahan (12) led the team in assists. On the defensive end, Miah Pena tallied 15 digs while Grose added 10 for AMU.
 
Playing their second consecutive match, the Gyrenes came out slow in the opening set and fell behind 10-4. AMU battled back and eventually tied the opening set at 22 apiece. Faulkner won three of the final four points to take the set 25-23.
 
In the second set, Ave Maria built a five-point advantage midway through the set before three straight points from Faulkner made it 18-16. With AMU leading 19-16, the Eagles went on an 8-0 run to take a 24-19 lead. Faulkner went on to take the set 25-21.
 
Faulkner kept the momentum going in the third with the first six points of the set. A trio of four-point spurts for the Gyrenes gave AMU a 18-16 lead late in the set. Faulkner responded with a five-point run to take a 22-19 lead. The teams exchanged points the rest of the way with the Eagles closing out the set 25-23.