MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University volleyball team did not have an answer for the defending Sun Conference champions Wednesday night, falling to the St. Thomas University Bobcats in straight sets in Miami Gardens. The Gyrenes got progressively closer to upending the (RV) Bobcats as the match went on, but eventually dropped a 25-11, 25-19, 25-22 decision.
St. Thomas had little trouble with the Gyrenes in the first set, as the Bobcats connected for kills on 15 of their 28 swings en route to a 25-11 victory. Conversely, the Gyrenes had just four kills in the opening set and made nine attack errors. St. Thomas consistently strung together multiple points, including a 8-1 run that opened their lead up from 3-2 to 11-3.
The match tightened in the second set, which actually saw the Gyrenes record more kills than the Bobcats, 14-13. Despite that, St. Thomas held the lead for almost the entire set. After trailing by as many as six points, AMU cut the deficit down to three at 19-16 before the Bobcats put the set away, clinching the 25-19 win on an AMU setting error.
Ave Maria led at times in the third set, holding a lead as late as 12-11. St. Thomas took control of the set from there, though, and the Bobcats had match point with a 24-21 lead. Ave Maria fought off the first match point thanks to an STU attack error, but a kill from veteran Amanda Allende brought the match to a close.
Zelie Kessler was responsible for more than a third of Ave Maria's kills, accounting for nine of AMU's 25. Caroline Myers added 10 assists, and Beatriz Rissi had a solid night at the net with four blocks. Hannah Jones did what she could on the defensive end, finishing the night with 15 digs in the losing effort.
The Gyrenes will have less than 24 hours to regroup, with a home match awaiting Thursday night. Ave Maria will return to the confines of Donahue Gym, with the Conquistadors of Florida National University in town. The Gyrenes will look to extend their eleven match winning streak against the Conquistadors, a streak that dates back to the 2018 season. Opening serve from Ave Maria is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
