BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team took a point from the Keiser University Seahawks for just the second time in school history, earning a singles point in a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the second-ranked team in the nation at Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton. The Gyrenes were competitive with the perrenial national powers throughout the day, forcing several sets to 7-5 decisions or tiebreakers.

The showcase match of the day did not disappoint, as two of the top six doubles teams in the nation did battle at the top doubles spot. Keiser's team of Nicole Coopersmith and Vanja Vidanovic, ranked second, narrowly squeaked past Ave Maria's duo of Lara Teodoro and Vitoria Barandas, ranked sixth, 7-5. That match came with the doubles point already decided, with Keiser earning a 6-4 win at the number two spot and a 6-1 victory at the third position.

Ave Maria's singles victory was the responsibility of Andrea Rodriguez Oria. After losing in the first set of the fourth singles match to Keiser's Kanon Sorakubo, the Spainiard bounced back for a 6-4 win in the second, forcing a tiebreaker in the third set. Despite the match already being decided, Rodriguez Oria provided the brightest spot of the day for the Gyrenes with a 10-7 victory in the tiebreaker.

In the other five singles matches, Keiser swept their way to a 6-1 win. Valentine Colin battled at the number three spot, falling narrowly to Kahea Companion, 7-5, 7-6. Aethielle Kelkboom also played well in her first set, falling to Joyce Nouws in a tiebreaker before a 6-0 defeat in the decisive set.

Next on the schedule for the Gyrenes is Mount Vernon Nazarene University, who will come to the AMU campus on Tuesday afternoon. The Gyrenes will play two matches and one exhibition next week, with a Saturday showdown with No. 6 SCAD-Savannah looming next Saturday. In between the two NAIA matches, the Gyrenes will head to Orlando for an exhibition meeting with the Lions of Piedmont University, an NCAA Division III program in Georgia.