MARIETTA, Ga.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team got their 2022 season underway on Friday, playing a pair of games at the Running Eagles Classic, hosted by Life University in Marietta, Georgia. The Gyrenes dropped both of their games in Georgia, falling in five sets to the Lions of Bryan College, then losing in four sets to the Rams of Columbia International University, who entered the season among those receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.

The opening match of the season went back and forth, as Bryan took the first and third sets, while Ave Maria won in the second and fourth frames before the Lions won the tiebreaking fifth set for a 25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 27-29, 15-12 win. Trailing 2-1 in the fourth set, the Gyrenes fought off three match points to force a fifth set. The Gyrenes then faced a 14-8 deficit in the fifth set, and fought off four more match points before finally falling 15-12 in the decisive frame.

Three-time All-Conference selection Madelyn Haut was the Gyrene leader at the net, leading Ave Maria with 15 kills and five total blocks. Zelie Kessler was also in double figures with eleven kills. Reigning Sun Conference Setter of the Year Lily Witkoski dished out 38 assists in the five-set affair, while Victoria Schein racked up 37 digs from the libero position. Schein's 37 digs set a new single-game program record, breaking the previous record of 34 set by Marian DeTar in 2013.

In the nightcap, the Gyrenes struggled to keep up with a CIU attack that had at least eleven kills in each of the four sets. Ave Maria was able to bounce back after falling in the first two sets, 25-17 and 25-21, to take the third set by a 25-20 margin. The Rams, who logged eight service aces in the match to just three for Ave Maria, finished off the victory with a 25-15 triumph in the fourth set. 

Kessler had another good game for the Gyrenes, logging a team-high 15 kills in the second game of the season. Madelyn Haut (11) and Abigail Costlow (10) were also in double figures in kills, while Costlow led the Gyrenes with four total blocks. Witkoski logged 40 assists against the Rams, while Schein continued to be the AMU defensive leader with 26 digs over four sets. 

Ave Maria will get an immediate chance to bounce back, as AMU plays two more games at the Running Eagles Classic on Saturday. The action in the Peach State starts at 9 am, when the Gyrenes take on Xavier University from Louisiana. The road trip ends Saturday afternoon, as Ave Maria takes on Brenau University for the first of two meetings between the schools this season. Opening serve of the first Ave Maria-Brenau match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.