AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Volleyball team played some of their better volleyball on Wednesday in their midweek match against the St. Thomas Bobcats. However, the Gyrenes just ran into a machine in the number 10 team in the country and lost in three straight sets.

The first set got off to a rough start for Ave Maria as two big runs for the Bobcats put them out in front 15-4. Towards the back half of the set, the Gyrenes found more solid ground, and even played St. Thomas to an even 10-10 in the final 20 points of the set. However, the 11-point gap to start the set was too much to overcome for Ave Maria as St. Thomas won the opening frame 25-14.

The second set was by far the best of the match for Ave Maria. The Gyrenes won the first three points of the frame and again played even volleyball with one of the top teams in the nation. After St. Thomas got their first lead of the frame, a kill from Beatriz Rissi tied the game at 15. That was the final tie of the set though as St. Thomas put together a 9-2 run to get to set point. Ave Maria fended off set point for two consecutive plays with a kill from Rissi and an attack error from St. Thomas. The Bobcats put it away on the third try winning 25-19.

Despite losing the set, 19 points was the most scored against the Bobcats in the last six sets.

The Gyrenes climbed out of an early hole in the third set, coming back down 5-2 to take a 6-5 lead with a Ryan Getz ace. The two teams tossed the lead back and forth over the net for a few possessions before the St. Thomas began to pull away again. An 8-1 run was the culprit this time for the Bobcats as it stretched a three-point lead to a nine-point lead. St. Thomas won the set 25-16.

Greta Heiney led the team with six kills. Rissi was right behind her with five kills. Combined with a team leading two solo blocks and two more assisted blocks, Rissi led the team with eight points scored.

Caroline Myers was the leading setter with 12 assists. Freshman Kate Lyons led the team defensively with six digs. Behind the line, Ines Lopes and Getz each had an ace.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 1-13 and 1-5 in conference play.

The Gyrenes are on the road for their next match as they travel north to Temple Terrace to take on the Florida College Falcons. Ave Maria hosted Florida College back in September for their first match back in the newly renovated Tom Golisano Field House. The opening serve is set for 7 p.m. and the match can be streamed on Florida College's YouTube channel.