GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team made a major statement on Friday, sweeping two matches at the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Gyrenes swept Saint Francis from Indiana in their opener, then won a five-set thriller over Aquinas College, who entered the season as the third team in the receiving votes category of the national rankings, placing them 28th in the nation.

The first set of the opening match between Ave Maria and Saint Francis was the closest, as the Gyrenes squeaked by the Cougars, 25-23. The set was tied at 18 before AMU went on a 5-1 run to take a 23-19 advantage. After three straight points from Saint Francis, the teams traded points, and on the Gyrenes' second set point, Madelyn Haut delivered a kill to give the first set to AMU.

In the second and third sets, the Gyrenes took control of the match. Ave Maria raced out to an 11-3 lead in the second set, en route to a dominant 25-10 win that saw the Gyrenes record a remarkable .650 attack percentage, with 14 kills on 20 swings. The third set was much of the same, as 12 kills on 20 swings (a .600 attack percentage) propelled the Gyrenes to a 25-14 win. 

Michigan native Madelyn Haut was the standout for the Gyrenes in the opener, logging eight kills and four blocks. Freshman Millie Stockard added seven kills on nine swings, while Lily Witkoski ran the offense to the tune of 22 assists. Defensively, Victoria Schein led the way with ten digs, while Witkoski added eight of her own. 

The nightcap was a thriller, as Ave Maria and Aquinas traded sets until a dramatic fifth set. In the first set, the Gyrenes trailed 20-18 before four straight points gave AMU a 22-20 lead. After Aquinas tied the match at 22, AMU won the final three points to take the first set. Aquinas won the second set, 25-18, but Ave Maria regained control with another 25-22 win in the third. A 25-23 win in the fourth set set up the decisive, first-to-15 battle.

In the fifth, the lead changed hands numerous times, but it was Aquinas who would first serve for the match with a 14-13 lead. A Haut kill fought off the first match point, and a kill from Rita Campos gave the Gyrenes one of their own. Campos then put the match away with another kill, giving Ave Maria perhaps their biggest non-conference win in program history. 

Campos and Haut were outstanding in the victory, combining for 30 kills (17 for Campos and 13 for Haut). Cabriella Bouterse also added nine kills. Witkoski logged 46 assists in the win, while Schein (16) and Miah Pena were both in double figures in the dig category. 

Ave Maria will look to finish up a successful trip to Michigan with matches against Mount Vernon Nazarene and Cornerstone on Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes will take on MVNU at 11 a.m., with the finale against host Cornerstone scheduled for 3 p.m.