Box Score AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University tennis teams opened the 2020 season on Tuesday afternoon, as the Gyrenes faced off with Florida National University. Ave Maria's women claimed a 5-1 victory over the Conquistadors, while the men suffered a 4-1 defeat. The matches were scored using the new scoring system previously adopted at the NCAA Division II and III levels, where the three doubles matches are combined into one team point. 

The Gyrene women won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead on the day. After a forfeit in number three doubles, Katie Fuller and Aethielle Kelkboom teamed up for a 6-4 win at number two. Lara Teodoro and Julia Candiotto were even at 4 in their match with FNU's top doubles team when AMU clinched the doubles point. The match was left unfinished.

In singles play, the Gyrenes won four of the five completed singles matches to claim the win. A forfeit at number six started AMU with a 2-0 lead, and Amarli Benn earned a win at number four when her opponent retired. Lara Teodoro won in three sets, 6-4 2-6 6-3, to clinch the win for the Gyrenes. Kelkboom rallied from a first set loss to win 6-0 in the second set and 6-3 in the third to earn the final point for AMU. Candiotto also held a 6-0 lead in her match at number five, but saw the match come to an end when AMU sealed the team win.
 
Florida National earned the doubles point on the men's side with victories at the number one and number three positions. The number two doubles match, featuring Ave Maria's Alejandro Viedma and Carlos Thireau, was tied 4-4 when the doubles point was decided.

Nicholas Hofmeister earned the lone point on the day for the men, as the returner knocked off FNU's Joaquin Rodriguez, 6-4, 6-4. FNU earned victories at numbers two, three, and four, including a marathon win at number three by Geronimo Vivero over Viedma in a match that took nearly three hours. AMU's Felipe Amorim held a 6-3 lead in his match at number five doubles, but that match was left unfinished.

Both tennis teams will return to the court on February 4, when the Gyrenes head to Daytona Beach to face NCAA Division II Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The opening serve of those matches is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.