LAKELAND, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball couldn't find the winning formula Wednesday night in Lakeland, falling in four sets to the Fire of Southeastern University. Ave Maria claimed a win in the second set, but fell 25-13, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21. The defeat was Ave Maria's third straight in Sun Conference play, dropping the Gyrenes to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
The Gyrenes found themselves in an early hole, as Southeastern was completely dominant in the opening set. The Fire hit .481 in the first, rolling to a 25-13 victory despite AMU's second best attacking set of the night. The set was close early on, but the Fire scored 13 of the set's final 17 points, turning a 12-9 lead into a 12-point victory capped off by a Tatyana Lyons kill.
Ave Maria responded in the second set with a 25-20 victory, evening the match at one set apiece. The Gyrenes raced out to a 10-3 lead in the second, and never trailed en route to their victory. SEU closed the gap to 18-17 late in the set, but Ryan Getz helped close out the Fire in the second, accounting for two kills, two assists, and an ace in the Gyrenes' final seven points, part of a 7-3 run.
That momentum didn't carry over into the third set, as Southeastern raced out to an 8-1 lead to start the frame. AMU didn't get any closer than four points until the closing moments of the set, when the Gyrenes turned away three consecutive match points from the Fire to stay alive. Southeastern finally claimed the lead with a kill from Emilia Harding, putting the Fire one set away from the home victory.
AMU had their chances to force a fifth set, taking an early 9-4 lead in the fourth set. Southeastern was able to rally, finally taking a lead during a 4-0 run to go up 18-15. The Gyrenes would get as close as one point, 21-20, down the stretch, but the Fire scored four of the last five points, getting a kill from Cambry Pope to clinch the match.
Alayna Metherd was Ave Maria's leading attacker in the conference match, racking up 12 kills. Ryan Getz had a productive match, posting a double-double with 25 assists and 14 digs, both of which were team-highs. Caroline Myers also posted a double-double with 13 assists and eleven digs, while Ines Lopes added eleven digs of her own.
Wednesday's match is the only match on the schedule this week for the Gyrenes, who will get a rare weekend off. Following an exhibition match against Palm Beach State College on Monday, the Gyrenes will return to Sun Conference play on Wednesday. Ave Maria will search for a series sweep of Warner at Donahue Gym, with opening serve of the second meeting this season between the schools set for 7:00 p.m.
