CLEVELAND, Ga.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team stayed red-hot on Saturday, claiming their fifth and sixth consecutive sweep and sixth and seventh consecutive victories to close out the Truett McConnell University Invitational in Cleveland, Georgia. The Gyrenes defeated Brenau University for the second time this season, then swept the Koalas of Columbia College to finish the Invitational with a 4-0 record.

Just as in the first meeting, the Gyrenes rolled past Brenau, never surrendering more than 21 points in a set. As has been their custom all weekend, the Gyrenes were extremely efficient at the net, hitting better than .250 in each of the three sets. Ave Maria racked up 39 kills on 96 swings with just 14 errors, good for a .260 attack percentage for the match. AMU excelled in every facet of the game, logging seven aces to Brenau's four and seven blocks to the Tigers' three.

Ave Maria's 39 kills were spread out, as six players had at least four kills and none had more than nine. Zelie Kessler and Madelyn Haut led the effort with nine, while Haut led the Gyrene block with four total stops. Lily Witkoski paced Ave Maria in both assists and digs, posting another double-double with 18 assists and 15 digs, while Katie Grose had 12 assists and was the only Gyrene with two aces.

The win over Columbia was even more dominant, as the Koalas managed just 35 total points over the three sets. The Gyrenes were at their best in the opening set, posting a .458 attack percentage and forcing eight Columbia errors. Columbia had a negative attack percentage in two of three sets, with their best percentage just .086. The AMU serve was lethal as well, as the Gyrenes racked up eight in their final game of the weekend in Georgia. 

Cabriella Bouterse was nearly unstoppable in the nightcap, putting away nine kills on 15 swings with just one error, good for a .533 attack percentage. Haut added nine kills of her own, along with four blocks, including two solo stops. Witkoski again led the Gyrenes with 16 assists, while Victoria Schein had her best performance of the weekend with 19 digs in the win. 

AMU will have more than a week to prepare for the Sun Conference opener, which awaits the Gyrenes next. The opener will be a showdown between the reigning Sun Conference regular season champions and the reigning Sun Conference Tournament champions, as Ave Maria hosts St. Thomas University. It will also be the home opener for AMU, with opening serve from Donahue Gym scheduled for 8:00 p.m.