AVE MARIA, Fla.  – The Ave Maria University women's tennis team notched a 5-2 victory on Saturday vs. St. Thomas University in the opening dual match of the spring season for each of the programs.
 
The Gyrenes began the match by sweeping all three doubles match ups to earn the opening point.  Lara Teodoro and Julia Candiotto set the tone from the start with a 6-4 triumph over St. Thomas' Annie Carrera and Amber Paterson in the top tandem match. 
 
Kely Oliveira and Gabrielle Benn followed with a 6-2 win at No. 2 and Katie Fuller and Aethielle Kelkboom capped off the sweep in the No. 3 flight with a 6-2 win.
 
Ave Maria posted wins in four of the six singles showdowns with Teodoro and Candiotto each recording their second victories of the afternoon with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively.  Teodoro handled Amber Paterson in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, while Candiotto also enjoyed a two-set win by the scores of 6-4, 7-5.
 
In No. 5 singles, junior Kely Oliveira battled her way to a three-set win (2-6, 6-1, 6-0) over the Bobcats' Giovanna Paschoalin and in the No. 6 flight, AMU junior Katie Fuller handed Sofia de la Fuente in straight sets (6-4, 6-1).
 
St. Thomas managed to post wins in the No. 3 and 4 flights with sophomores Gabrielle Benn and Aethielle Kelkboom dropping two-set decisions.
 
The Gyrenes, who are among the top teams receiving votes in the NAIA National Rankings, return to action on Saturday, Feb. 13 at No. 20 Southeastern beginning at 1 p.m. EST.