WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team got a point off the No. 1 team in the nation, but could get no more in a 6-1 loss to the Keiser University Seahawks in West Palm Beach. The Gyrenes won a match against the Seahawks for the first time since the 2020 season, but could not spring the upset that would have denied the Seahawks an undefeated finish in Sun Conference play.

Keiser made quick work of the Gyrenes in doubles play, surrendering just five points overall in the three matches. The closest of the three matches came in the first flight, where AMU's duo of Gustavo Cruz and Luca Cirenza earned three points, but fell short against Keiser's Didrik Liljekvist and Gaston Cantero. Keiser won the other two matches by scores of 6-1, putting the Seahawks up 1-0 heading into singles action.

Playing at the number one position for the first time in his Ave Maria career, Gaston Erhardt earned one of his biggest wins of the season. The Argentinian sophomore claimed a victory in straight sets over Keiser's Didrik Liljekvist. Erhardt became just the second NAIA player this season to beat Liljekvist in straight sets, doing so by a score of 6-4, 6-3.

The remainder of Keiser's lineup, all of whom are ranked in the nation's top 25, won their matches in straight sets to finish off the Seahawks' 6-1 victory. The closest the Gyrenes came to taking a set from the Seahawks in the other five matches came at the second flight, where Luca Cirenza battled the nation's fifth-ranked player, Shaheed Alam, to a 7-5 decision in the first set. Alam would finish off Cirenza with a 6-3 win in the second set, accounting for Keiser's fifth point of the day.

The Gyrenes enter the final day of the regular season with their seed in The Sun Conference Tournament still uncertain. Ave Maria could finish anywhere from third to fifth in the league, with results Saturday determining the final seeding. AMU will attempt to do their part on Saturday, when the Gyrenes battle No. 17 St. Thomas University. STU could clinch third place with a win, but would fall into a tie with AMU with a loss. Opening serve from Miami Gardens is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.