GULF SHORES, Ala.- The Ave Maria University beach volleyball team conquered at least part of their postseason demons on Friday, winning two matches in The Sun Conference Tournament, held this year in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Gyrenes, who had lost their opening match in the tournament as the higher seed in each of the past two years, defeated Warner 3-0 in the opening round before a dramatic 3-2 victory over Loyola in the nightcap.

Both of Friday's matches were played to clinch, meaning the match ends once one team earns their third point. The Gyrenes raced out to a 2-0 advantage over the Royals, winning both matches at the top of the lineup. Lily Grasso and Lily Witkoski cruised to a 21-16, 21-10 win over Warner's Savanah Griffin and Leah Cooley at the first flight, while Katie Grose and Reina Thomas earned a 21-13, 21-19 win at the second flight over Miranda Manduley and Maja Auer.

The other three matches all went to a third set, with Ave Maria needing just one for a first round win. That victory was provided by the duo of Alayna Metherd and Hannah Jones. Jones and Metherd rallied from a 22-20 loss to Reva Godbolt and Becca Mack in the first set of the fourth flight, winning 21-7 in the second set before a dominant 15-5 win to clinch the match for the Gyrenes. The matches at the third and fifth flights went unfinished due to AMU's clinching of the match. 

Friday's second match was far more dramatic, as the Gyrenes needed to win the final two matches on the court to finish off a 2-0 day. The top two matches in the lineup were the only ones to be decided in straight sets, and were split between the Gyrenes and the Wolfpack. Loyola emerged victorious with a 21-17, 21-18 win at the top spot, while Grose and Thomas finished off an unbeaten day with a 21-17, 21-10 win at the second flight.

Three third sets would decide the match, with the team earning two wins advancing to the semifinals. Loyola earned the first point with a win at the third flight, putting the Gyrenes' backs against the wall. However, AMU's teams at the fourth and fifth flights came through. Abbey Grose and Victoria Schein evened the match at two with a 21-15, 14-21, 16-14 victory, while Metherd and Jones added their second win of the day with a clinching victory at the fourth flight, 18-21, 21-18, 15-12.

Ave Maria's two wins on Friday leave the Gyrenes now two wins away from their first Sun Conference championship in beach volleyball. The first of those matches will be a rematch of last season's SUN semifinals, as Ave Maria battles Southeastern University. Should the Gyrenes be victorious and advance to their first ever SUN title game, the Gyrenes would face either top-ranked Webber International, the tournament's defending champions, or would take on Loyola in a rematch, as the Wolfpack advanced through Friday's double elimination stage as well.