AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team saw team history made Wednesday night at Donahue Gym, as the Gyrenes swept past the Fire of Southeastern University, 25-18, 25-18, 25-9. The win, which marked AMU's fifth in the last six meetings with the Fire, was the tenth in row for the Gyrenes. Ave Maria also saw one of the biggest program records fall on Wednesday, as Madelyn Haut became the school's all-time leader in kills.

AMU took control of the match from the opening serve, scoring the game's first six points and never trailing in the opening set. Southeastern was able to climb back into the set, cutting the lead to two on two occasions at 14-12 and 17-15. Leading 17-15, the Gyrenes proceeded to score six unanswered points to push the lead back to eight, and closed the deal thanks to a kill from Abigail Costlow.

In the second set, it was much of the same for the Gyrenes, who used an 11-4 run to jump out to a 14-7 lead over the Fire. Southeastern did not get closer than five points from that point on, as Ave Maria outhit the Fire in the second set, .324 to .056. It was once again Costlow that concluded matters with a kill, giving the Gyrenes the commanding lead on their home floor. 

Ave Maria did not let up in the third set, clinching their 16th consecutive win at Donahue Gym with a 25-9 thrashing of the Fire. AMU forced 12 Southeastern errors during the set, and went on a 22-4 run after starting down 3-0 in the set. The Gyrenes scored the last three points of the night, finishing off the sweep with a kill from Katie Grose.

With her seven kills, Haut moved her career total to 842 and moved past three-time All-Conference selection Lexy Smith, who had 839 kills in her three years at Ave Maria. Haut, who already owns the program record for career blocks, has also been named All-Conference three times during her AMU career, is a two-time All-Region selection, and earned honorable mention All-American honors following the 2020 season. 

Cabriella Bouterse was nearly unstoppable for the Gyrenes on the attack, putting down ten kills on just 18 swings. Grose and Lily Witkoski split setting duties, combining for 27 assists over the three sets. In addition to six kills, Costlow led the defensive effort with six blocks, while Victoria Schein was once again in double digits from the back row with ten digs.

The next time they step on the court, the Gyrenes will have a chance to tie the longest winning streak in program history, set last season when AMU won eleven straight, the last two of which gave AMU the Sun Conference Tournament title. Ave Maria's opponent will be 2021 NAIA National Tournament qualifier Florida College. The Gyrenes have won four straight matches against the Falcons, a streak that dates back to the 2019 season. Opening serve Tuesday night from Temple Terrace is scheduled for 5:00 pm.