ORLANDO, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team earned their second consecutive win over an NCAA Division II foe, picking up a 5-2 win over the Panthers of Davenport University at the USTA National Campus in Orlando on Wednesday. Ave Maria lost the doubles point, then rallied to dominate in singles play, winning five of the six matches to move to 2-1 on the season. 

Davenport had little trouble with the Gyrenes in doubles action, winning all three matches. The closest of these matches was 6-4, with the Panther's number one and three doubles teams winning by that score. The second flight saw DU's team of Simone Pacciolla and Carlos Henriquez picking up a 6-2 victory. 

AMU turned the momentum in singles play, taking five of six matches. As dominant as Davenport was in doubles play, the Gyrenes were similarly powerful in singles action. Ave Maria won four of their five singles matches in straight sets. Davenport's only win came at the second flight, where Jan Stolin picked up a 6-3, 6-4 for the Panthers.

The lone match to go to three sets came at the fourth flight, where Luca Cirenza rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Davenport's Daniil Khitrou. Cirenza's win was his first singles win in dual play this season, as the Brazilian native had only played doubles in the first two matches of the season.

Nationally ranked Gustavo Cruz helped set the tone at the first flight with a 6-2, 7-5 win, while Carlos Thireau earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Joel Mast at the third position. The bottom two spots in the Gyrene lineup rolled to win, surrendering just five points between them. Bruno Duarte was a 6-1, 6-2 winner at the fifth flight, and Guilherme Bento made short work of his opponent at the sixth flight, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Ave Maria's men will return to the USTA National Campus on Sunday for a match against the Eagles of Judson University from Illinois. AMU has beaten Judson in two of the past three seasons, winning 4-1 in 2020 and 4-3 in 2021. Opening serve from the National Campus in Orlando is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

The match against Bowling Green will begin a key stretch for the Gyrene men against top opponents, as Ave Maria will battle two of the nation's top ten teams in the week following the match against BGSU.