ORLANDO, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team took down an NCAA Division II foe on Friday afternoon, defeating Northwood University, 4-3, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. The Gyrenes dominated much of singles play, winning four matches in straight sets to pick up their first victory over an NCAA Division II opponent since the 2018 season.

The doubles point went to Northwood, as two of the three matches were won decisively by the Timberwolves. Northwood's top team of Ben Brandherm / Mathis Violet defeated Nicholas Hofmeister and Luca Cirenza, 6-3, while Leon Grundstrom and David Sedlar earned a 6-1 win over Carlos Thireau and Alejandro Viedma. Ave Maria did win one of the doubles matches, when Adriel Bousquet and Felipe Amorim earned a 6-2 win over Tony Henrio and Clayton Scott at the number three spot.

When singles play started, the Gyrenes turned the tables on the Timberwolves, dominating each of the first four matches to finish. Felipe Amorim and Carlos Thireau both earned clear-cut victories at the number six and number three positions, respectivlely. Amorim earned the first point with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Clayton Scott, while Thireau won by the same score at the number three spot against Mathis Violet.

Ave Maria also won the next two singles matches in straight sets, clinching the victory for the Gyrenes. At the number two spot, Nicholas Hofmeister won the first set from  Ben Brandherm, 6-0, before closing him out with a 6-4 triumph in the second. Luca Cirenza then secured Ave Maria's second win of the week with a victory at the number four spot. Viedma defeated Tony Henrio, 6-4, 6-2, to pick up AMU's fourth straight singles win over the Timberwolves.

Both of Northwood's wins in singles play came in three-set matches. At the number one spot, Leon Grundstrom took the first set from Guilherme Bento, 7-5, before Bento rallied to force a third set. In the tiebreaker, Grundstrom escaped with a 10-7 win. At the number five spot, Alejandro Viedma won the first set, 7-5, but David Sedlar came back to win the final two sets, 6-2, 10-7.

For the first time since February 27, the Gyrene tennis teams will be back at home on Monday, with AMU hosting the Conquistadors of Florida National University at the AMU Tennis Facility. The match against Florida National will be one of two matches against non-conference opposition next week for Ave Maria, as the Gyrenes will return to the USTA National Campus on Wednesday afternoon to face Bethel University, an NCAA Division III foe from Minnesota. Opening serve of both non-conference matches next week are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.