AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team bounced back from a sweep on Wednesday night with a sweep of their own, taking three straight sets from the Warner University Royals in Lake Wales on Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes controlled all three sets, taking a 25-18, 25-11, 25-18 victory from the hosts to move to 4-2 in Sun Conference play.
Ave Maria found themselves trailing in the first set, as Warner used a 4-0 run to stake a 11-10 lead. The Gyrenes' response was five consecutive points, opening up a 15-11 lead they would not relinquish. AMU would not allow Warner to string together more than two consecutive points for the remainder of the set, and put the Royals away with a seven-point victory.
In the second set, it was all Gyrenes. Ave Maria scored the first four points of the set and never looked back, leading for the entirety of the set. After Warner pulled to within 6-5, the Gyrenes ripped off 13 of the next 14 points, thanks to the serve of Lily Witkoski, who also handled setting duties. Ave Maria also scored the final three points of the set, finishing off the action thanks to a Warner attack error.
The third set saw a set of Ave Maria runs put the match away. During the final frame, Ave Maria went on a pair of 6-1 runs, as well as a stretch of four consecutive points. The first 6-1 run came after Warner took a 7-4 lead, and flipped the lead to the Gyrenes at 10-8. After Warner tied the match at ten, the Gyrenes went on another 6-1 run to essentially put the match away. A kill by Flavia Rusterholz was the final attack, clinching a sweep for Ave Maria.
AMU re-established their blocking game on Saturday, logging six blocks as a team in the victory. The Gyrenes also were excellent at the net on the offensive end, logging a .291 hitting percentage. That mark included a .480 mark in the first set. The Gyrenes also sealed the win by keeping balls alive on Warner attacks, as AMU logged 35 digs as a unit.
Madelyn Haut was nearly unstoppable in the win, logging a kill on 12 of her 16 attacks for a .625 hitting percentage. Cabriella Bouterse also added nine kills in the win. Lily Witkoski handled setting duties with 25 assists and six digs, while Victoria Schein led the way with ten digs. Erica Chenard continued her blocking prowess in the victory, assisting on five of AMU's six blocks.
The Gyrenes will exit conference play on Tuesday for a meeting with the Conquistadors of Florida National University. Opening serve in Ave Maria is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.. AMU's next conference match, which will conclude the Gyrenes' first rotation of TSC teams, comes against Webber International University next Saturday in Babson Park.
