MOBILE, Ala.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team picked up one of the biggest regular season wins in program history on Friday, defeating No. 8 Xavier University, 4-0, in Mobile, Alabama. The victory, Ave Maria's first-ever win in men's tennis over a top ten opponent, came as part of the program's trip to Alabama, which saw AMU battle some of the nation's top teams.

The Gyrenes nearly earned another top ten win on Monday, falling 4-3 to William Carey University, who is ranked seventh in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Ave Maria's victory over Xavier started in doubles action, where the Gyrenes won two of the three matches to claim the doubles point. The AMU doubles point came in dramatic fashion, as both the second and third flights came down to the tiebreaker. Fernando Orihuela and Gaston Erhardt emerged victorious at the second flight, and the team of Bruno Duarte and Guilherme Bento did the same in the third flight to put Ave Maria ahead, 1-0.

The first three singles matches to finish all went to the Gyrenes, giving AMU a 4-0 sweep of the Gold Rush. Both of Ave Maria's matches in Alabama were played to clinch, meaning all matches are stopped once one team clinches the match. 

The most notable win was provided by Gustavo Cruz, who defeated the sixth-ranked player in the nation in three sets, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, at the top flight. AMU's bottom two players in the lineup also earned victories, with both coming in straight sets. Duarte was a 6-1, 6-3 winner at the fifth flight, and Bento picked up a 6-3, 7-5 win at the sixth flight.

Against William Carey, the Gyrenes once again jumped ahead by claiming the doubles point. Erhardt and Orihuela continued their excellent play as a team with a 6-3 win at the second flight, while Cruz and Luca Cirenza teamed up for a 6-2 win over William Carey's top team.

In singles action, the Gyrenes could only get two of the three wins needed to finish the trip 2-0. Cruz continued his winning streak with a 6-3, 6-4 win at the first flight, defeating William Carey's top player in straight sets. Erhardt was responsible for Ave Maria's other win, a 6-2, 7-5 victory at the third flight. William Carey won three other matches in straight sets, and a three-set win at the second flight proved to be the difference in the match.

AMU returns to action on Monday, when the Gyrenes host Florida National University at home. The Florida National match will be Ave Maria's final tuneup before beginning conference play in the best league for tennis in the NAIA, The Sun Conference. Conference play is scheduled to begin Friday, March 24, when Ave Maria battles No. 19 Coastal Georgia on the road in Brunswick.