MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team took on St. Thomas University on Wednesday in The Sun Conference Match of the Week. The Gyrenes had their opportunities against the host Bobcats, but fell in three sets by a score of 25-22, 25-21, 25-22. The match was the conference opener for both teams, who split their season series last year with the home team winning both contests.

The first set went back and forth between the Gyrenes and the Bobcats, with neither team leading by more than three points. Ave Maria held a 17-15 lead, but St. Thomas put together the biggest run of the set, scoring six points in a row to swing the lead to them at 21-17. AMU was able to get back within one twice, at 22-21 and 23-22, but kills by Amanda Allende and Sana Dennis gave the first set to STU. 

St. Thomas jumped out to a lead in the second set, holding a 10-5 edge. The Gyrenes hung around, though, eventually taking the lead back at 14-13. St. Thomas was able to regain the lead, again leading by just one late in the set, 22-21. STU proceeded to take the final three points of the set, thanks to two kills from Arianna Bolinger and an AMU attack error, and took a 2-0 lead over the Gyrenes.

In the third set, the early lead belonged to the Gyrenes, who built a 10-4 edge early in the frame. Ave Maria would maintain control for most of the set, leading 18-13. St. Thomas would then rip off eight of the next nine points, taking a 21-19 lead. The Bobcats would not give back the lead, with back-to-back kills from Tyran Chenault and Mya Thomas clinching the match for the home team. 

Ave Maria posted just a .173 attack percentage in the match, moving the Gyrenes' record to 0-5 when the team's attack percentage is below .200 - it's 8-0 when it's above .200. Ave Maria was able to keep themselves in all three of the sets thanks to their blocking efforts, which logged eight blocks to just three for St. Thomas.

Rita Campos led the Ave Maria attack with eight kills, while Abigail Costlow and Cabriella Bouterse both added seven. Madelyn Haut, who had five kills, was Ave Maria's leader at the net with seven block assists. Lily Witkoski posted 23 assists from the setter position, while Victoria Schein led all players on the floor with 16 digs.

The Gyrenes will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, when Ave Maria plays their Sun Conference home opener against the Warriors of Webber International University. The match will be the first in league play for Webber, who enters the match with a six-match winning streak and a 9-4 record. First serve at the Donahue Academy Gymnasium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.