AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team nearly knocked off an NCAA Division I opponent Monday afternoon, but fell just short in a 4-3 loss to the Falcons of Bowling Green State University at the AMU Tennis Complex in Ave Maria. The Gyrenes won the doubles point, but dropped four of the six singles matches to fall to the visitors out of the Mid-American Conference. 

The afternoon started well for the Gyrenes, who won two of the three doubles matches to grab the early edge in the match. The Gyrenes claimed victory at the second and third flights of doubles play, led by a 6-4 win from AMU's number two team of Andrea Rodriguez Oria and Valentine Colin. The duo of Abigail Rich and Regina Ruiz added a victory of 6-4 at the third flight, giving Ave Maria the opening point despite Bowling Green's 6-1 win at the top singles flight. 

Needing three wins to knock off the Falcons in singles play, the Gyrenes could only manage two. The most decisive of those wins for Ave Maria was provided by Regina Ruiz, who earned a 6-3, 6-2 win at the fifth flight. Bowling Green responded with three wins of their own in straight sets, at the first, third, and sixth flights. Trailing 3-2, Ave Maria would need to win both matches that went to a third set to claim the match. 

Vitoria Barandas held up her end of the bargain, winning at the fourth flight over BGSU's Hannah Neuman. Barandas rallied from a 6-4 loss in the first set, dominating the final two sets to the tune of 6-2, 6-3. However, Bowling Green claimed the point they needed by winning at the second flight, where Eloise Saraty defeated AMU's Valentine Colin by a  5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win. 

Ave Maria's schedule does not get any easier over the next week, as the Gyrenes travel to Mobile, Alabama to play three of the NAIA's top ten teams. On consecutive days, the Gyrenes will play Mp. 5 Xavier, No. 9 William Carey, and No. 4 LSU Alexandria in Mobile, the host site of the NAIA National Tournament. The Gyrenes will lead off the trip against No. 5 Xavier on Friday. AMU's next home match is scheduled for Monday, March 20 against Florida National.