AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team battled back for a third-set victory, but eventually fell in four sets, 25-16, 25-18, 19-25, 25-14, to the Lions of Florida Memorial University at the Tom Golisano Field House on Saturday afternoon. It was the first of two meetings this season between the teams, with the return trip to Miami Gardens coming on October 19.

Florida Memorial pulled away in the first set, winning five consecutive points late in the set to extend a five-point lead (18-13) to ten points. An ace from Daphinie Correa, her second of the set, finished off the action. Florida Memorial was led by three kills on five swings from Biancaliz Cruz in the opening set, while Katie Grose and Madelyn Haut combined for six of AMU's six kills in the opening period.

The Lions never trailed in the second set, and once again pulled away late to take a 2-0 lead. The Gyrenes trailed just 17-15 after a kill from McKenna Tyson, but FMU proceeded to score the next six points to take a 23-15 lead to set up the eventual victory. The Lions posted a match-high .353 hitting percentage in the second set, led by six kills on eight attempts from Aryam Sammy Albarran.

Ave Maria's attack came to life in the third set, as the Gyrenes forced a third set with a 25-19 win. A kill by Erica Chenard earned the Gyrenes their first set victory in conference play this season, capping off a set where the third-year middle blocker led AMU with three kills, two digs, and an ace. Haut also added three kills in the third set victory. 

In the fourth set, a closely contested matchup was blown open by the Lions, who ended the action on a 15-6 run. Five different Florida Memorial attackers logged two kills in the final set, and three blocks helped the Lions put away the Gyrenes. Ave Maria was also hurt by ten attack errors in the final set after having ten errors in the previous two sets combined.

Haut led the Gyrenes with eight kills in the match, while Miah Pena added 15 digs at the libero position. Katie Grose was in triple-double territory for AMU, logging 25 assists, eight digs, and seven kills. Florida Memorial was led by eleven kills each from Albarran and Rachele Mancinelli. Keisha Santana supplied a game-high 30 digs in the win.

The Gyrenes will take a brief break from conference play on Tuesday, as the Falcons of Florida College come to the Tom Golisano Field House. Sun Conference play resumes on Wednesday in Lakeland, when the Gyrenes take on Southeastern University. First serve in both matches is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.