WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team wrote another chapter in their rivalry with Keiser University Wednesday night in West Palm Beach, rallying for a five-set victory over the Seahawks. Each of the last four matches between the schools have gone to five sets, with AMU winning twice in West Palm Beach and Keiser winning last season at Donahue Gym and in a neutral site matchup.
The Gyrenes started fast in their third conference matchup of the season, claiming a 25-20 win in the opening set. The lead changed hands several times in the opening frame, leading the score to a 17-17 tie. From there, AMU dominated the closing moments of the set, winning eight of the final eleven points, capped off by a Hannah Jones ace to seal the win.
Keiser was able to flip the script in the second and third sets, as the Seahawks were in complete control of the Gyrenes. Keiser had attack percentages north of .300 in each set, hitting .333 in the second set and logging .387 percentage in the third. The Seahawks rolled to a 25-11 victory in the second set, then took the lead in the match with a 25-18 win in the third.
With their backs against the wall, the Gyrenes would not back down from the host Seahawks. Ave Maria jumped out to an early lead in the fourth, but would eventually have to work from behind when Keiser claimed a 16-15 lead. Just nine points from defeat, Ave Maria ripped off a 10-4 run to close out the set. Paeton Hyde sent the match to a fifth set with a kill on AMU's second attempt at set point.
KU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth set, but the Gyrenes had an answer with four straight points of their own. After Keiser tied the match at four, Ave Maria proceeded to go on a 8-1 run, all but putting the match away. The Seahawks never again got closer than four points, and Hyde finished off her second set in a row, clinching Ave Maria's victory with a kill.
Elle Malczewski led the Gyrene attack with eleven kills in the victory, while Zelie Kessler followed with eight. Caroline Myers and Ryan Getz split setting duties, combining for 37 assists - 19 for Myers and 18 for Getz. Beatriz Rissi had a monster game at the net, coming within one block of the program record with eleven. Hannah Jones also played a key role defensively with eleven digs.
The win marked Ave Maria's fourth consecutive victory, and moved the Gyrenes to the top of the Sun Conference standings with a 3-0 record. AMU will return to Donahue Gym on Saturday afternoon, when AMU welcomes Florida Memorial University to town. Opening serve in Ave Maria is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
