TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team handed the Florida College Falcons their first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, crusing to a 25-19, 25-15, 25-20 victory at the Conn Gymnasium in Temple Terrace. The victory, which marked Ave Maria's fifth in a row, ensured the Gyrenes will finish the fall with an undefeated record in non-conference action.
In the first set, the Gyrenes withstood a number of mini-runs from the Falcons, and were able to hold on for a 25-19 victory. Ave Maria never trailed in the set, and saw their lead oscillate between one and four points for a majority of the action. The Gyrenes eventually put away the Falcons with a set-closing 5-0 run. Flavia Rusterholz and Zelie Kessler helped to key the run, as both players logged a kill and a solo block to seal the win.
The Gyrenes trailed for the first half of the second set, as Florida College was able to build an 11-8 lead. After a 5-2 run from Ave Maria evened the match at 13, the Gyrenes proceeded to score the next seven points to open up a 20-13 advantage. Erica Chenard led the way during the run with two kills, while AMU added three blocks - one each from Chenard, Cabriella Bouterse, and Lily Witkoski. A kill from Kessler finished the action, as Ave ended the set on a 17-4 run to win 25-15 and go up two sets to none.
Ave Maria jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the third set, but Florida College was able to rally and take a 15-14 lead. The Gyrenes then scored the next four points, which were all the result of Florida College errors. The match remained close for the remainder of the set, but the Gyrenes scored four unanswered points to end the match, extending a 21-20 lead to the final score of 25-20.
As a team, the Gyrenes' main advantage came at the net, as Ave Maria logged 12 blocks in the victory. AMU's blocking forced Florida College into 27 attack errors, while the Gyrenes themselves only posted ten. Led by a .429 attack percentage in the second set, the Gyrenes logged a .204 mark for the game. Florida College hit just .025.
Zelie Kessler led the Gyrenes with nine kills, while Madelyn Haut chipped in with six. Reigning Sun Conference Setter of the Week Lily Witkoski posted 22 assists, and conference Defender of the Week Victoria Schein led the way defensively with 18 digs. At the net, Erica Chenard had four blocks - two solo and two assists - in the winning effort.
Next on the Ave Maria schedule is a showdown against undefeated Keiser, who currently holds a two-game lead at the top of the Sun Conference standings. Opening serve between the 8-2 Gyrenes and the 8-0 Seahawks is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Donahue Academy gymnasium in Ave Maria.
