SAINT LEO, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team opened their spring schedule on Wednesday with a major challenge, facing NCAA Division II's number three team in the Lions of Saint Leo University. The Gyrenes did earn one victory over the Lions in doubles play, but fell 7-0 to the national championship contenders in the spring season opener for both schools. 

Ave Maria's victory on the day was provided in doubles action by the team of Nicholas Hofmeister and Felipe Amorim. The duo, playing at the number two spot against Saint Leo's Vincent Thiel and Brad Eidenmuller, earned a 6-4 victory. However, the Lions grabbed a 6-1 victory at the number one spot and a 6-4 win at the third position to seal the doubles point. 

Saint Leo won each of the singles matches, with five of the six wins coming in straight sets. Saint Leo's lineup features two players ranked in the top 50 in the nation at the NCAA Division II level in 27th ranked Bruno Faletto, who played at the number one spot, and 45th ranked Vincent Theil, who slotted in at the number three position.

The closest match of the day came at the number four spot, in a match between Ave Maria's Carlos Thireau and Saint Leo's Ghali Mensour. Mensour cruised to a win in the first set, 6-2, but Thireau battled back to take the second set by the same score. In the third set tiebreaker, Mensour emerged with a 10-6 victory to seal the seventh point for the host Lions. 

AMU's next match is a big one, as it will mark the beginning of Sun Conference play for the Gyrenes. Ave Maria will head across Alligator Alley for a meeting with the Bobcats of St. Thomas University, who enter the season ranked 24th in the nation in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. The battle of the ranked teams is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start Saturday in Miami Gardens.