WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team split their opening matches of the 2023 season on Friday, defeating the University of Mobile in five sets before falling to No. 8 Missouri Baptist in four sets. The Gyrenes' first win of the season came in come-from-behind fashion, as Ave Maria bounced back from losses of 25-22 and 26-24 in the first two sets to win the match, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11.

The Gyrenes had their chances in each of the first two sets. In the first set, AMU trailed by one point on two occasions in the closing moments, 22-21 and 23-22, before Mobile won the final two points of the set. In the second, Ave Maria fought off three set points to even the score at 24, but Mobile once again took the final two points to go up two sets on the Gyrenes.

Down two sets to none, the Gyrenes came storming back to win each of the final three sets in decisive fashion. The AMU attack came to life in the third and fourth sets, with the Gyrenes posting an attack percentage north of .300 in both frames. After evening the match, Ave Maria went for the kill in the fifth set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead before holding on to claim a 15-11 victory to clinch the match. 

Zelie Kessler led the AMU attack in the opening match of her senior season, putting down 19 kills with just four attack errors. Freshman Ryan Getz handled setting duties for much of the opener, and recorded a double-double with 39 assists and 16 digs. Anna Howard led AMU's defense with 18 kills, and was joined in double figures by Ines Lopes, Getz, and Reina Thomas.

In the second match, the Gyrenes could not keep up with the national championship contenders from Missouri Baptist, but managed to take a set. After falling 25-12 in the first set, AMU rallied for a 25-22 victory in the second set. The set win was powered by three straight points, as a kill from Elle Malczewski, a block from Paeton Hyde and Zelie Kessler, and a bad set gave AMU the set. Missouri Baptist rallied to win the final two sets to take the match, 3-1.

Malczewski was AMU's top attacker against Missouri Baptist, and was the lone Gyrene with ten kills. Getz was again the top setter with 28 assists, while Ines Lopes was the only AMU player with more than ten digs, putting up 12.

Each of Ave Maria's next eight matches will come outside the state of Florida. The first four of these matches will come at the Wolf Pack Welcome, on the campus of Loyola University in New Orleans. AMU will play two matches on Friday, against Michigan Dearborn and Loyola, then will finish their stay in The Big Easy with matches against Bluefield and Evangel on Saturday.