LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team got back in the win column on Wednesday night, winning a four-set decision over the Royals of Warner University. The Gyrenes took the first two sets to take control of the match, then put together a major comeback in the fourth set to earn their second conference win of the season, moving to 2-2 in league play.
The Gyrenes took the lead in the match with a 25-13 win in the first set, which saw Ave Maria pull away after a tight start. The Gyrenes led just 9-7 in the first set, but proceeded to score 14 of the next 18 points to widen the lead to 23-11. AMU put the set away thanks to a kill from freshman Abigail Costlow, taking an early lead in the rematch of last season's Sun Conference Tournament semifinal.
Ave Maria continued to dominate in the second set, as AMU posted a .517 attack percentage en route to a 25-14 win over the Royals. Warner actually held an 8-6 lead in the frame, but Ave Maria responded with a 13-2 that put the set firmly in AMU's control. A kill by Costlow, followed by a Warner attack error, finished off the Royals in the second, giving AMU a commanding 2-0 lead.
Warner kept the match alive in the third, jumping out to a 12-4 lead in the opening points of the frame. Ave Maria rallied to within one point on two occasions, (12-11 and 16-15), but could never overtake the hosts. Leading by just two points at 23-21, Warner scored the final two points of the frame on an Alexandra Gonzalez kill and an AMU attack error to send the match to a fourth set.
In what would prove to be the final set, Warner raced out to a 10-2 lead, and kept the lead until the Gyrenes tied the set at 16 on a kill from Lily Witkoski. An ace from Victoria Schein eventually gave the Gyrenes the lead at 18-17, and AMU did not relinquish the advantage for the remainder of the match. Ave Maria finished off the Royals, 25-22, to claim the four-set victory on the road.
Madelyn Haut led the Ave Maria attack with 13 kills, and tied for the team lead with three blocks. Haut was efficient in her attack, logging an attack percentage of .579. Cabriella Bouterse was also in double figures in kills with eleven. Lily Witkoski posted a double-double with 36 assists and 12 digs, while Victoria Schein led the Gyrene defensive efforts with 13 digs while Miah Pena added nine.
Next on the schedule for the Gyrenes are the Mariners of Coastal Georgia, who will come to Ave Maria with a 3-1 conference record. The Gyrenes host Coastal Georgia at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy Gymnasium, with opening serve scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
