BRUNSWICK, Ga.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team continued their fifth-set magic Saturday afternoon, surviving a reverse sweep attempt from the Coastal Georgia Mariners in Brunswick. Ave Maria looked to be on cruise control in the 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 15-25, 15-x victory, but then needed to come back to life in the decisive set to move their record for the season back to .500.

Early on, it looked to be all Gyrenes. Ave Maria jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, then ended the set on a 13-4 run to claim a dominant 25-14 victory. AMU was the beneficiary of Coastal Georgia's mistakes, as the Mariners had as many attack errors as kills - nine. Six of AMU's final seven points in the first, including each of the last four, were the result of a Coastal Georgia error, either on service, attack, or in setting. 

Ave Maria continued to play solid volleyball in the second set, opening up a two-set lead. AMU's key run came early in the set. Leading 5-4, the Gyrenes scored 13 of the next 16 points, turning a one-point lead into an 18-7 romp. Coastal Georgia would claw back within five points, but could get no closer before an Elle Malczewski kill finished off a 25-18 win, putting Ave Maria up two sets to none.

Coastal Georgia would not let the Gyrenes sweep them on their home floor, and emerged with a victory in the third set. The Mariners jumped out to an 8-2 lead on the Gyrenes, taking a lead they would hold for most of the third set. Ave Maria battled back to even the score at 20, but Coastal Georgia kept the match alive with five of the final eight points, winning 25-23.

After taking the fourth, Coastal Georgia had fully taken control of the momentum. After AMU held an early 3-2 lead, the Mariners pulled away, using a 9-1 run in the middle of the set to take control. Coastal Georgia also won four of the final points of the set, winning 25-15 to give the Mariners a chance to reverse sweep at home.

But just like Wednesday night, the Gyrenes were at their best in the fifth set. Paeton Hyde delivered a kill on two of the first three points of the set, and the Gyrenes built a 6-1 lead to force a timeout from Coastal. The Mariners would scramble back to within three points at 10-7, but AMU would not be denied. On the Gyrenes' third attempt at match point, Alayna Metherd hammered home a kill to move the Gyrenes to 10-10 on the season. 

Malczewski led the Gyrenes on attack with 13 kills, with Zelie Kessler and Metherd also in double figures. Ryan Getz narrowly missed out on a double-double with 26 assists and nine digs, while Caroline Myers added 22 assists and six digs. Hannah Jones led the back row effort with 13 digs, and Beatriz Rissi had another big night at the net with six blocks.

There will be little rest for the Gyrenes, who are right back on the floor Monday night. The Gyrenes will look to get back above .500 against the Falcons of Florida College, with opening serve scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Donahue Gym.