AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria volleyball team upset the Webber Warriors Saturday afternoon, winning 3-1. The Gyrenes battled back from behind multiple times and got their second win of the season.
Webber won the opening set frame in what was a back-and-forth competitive set. Ave Maria started the set off by getting out to a five point lead, but the Warriors clawed their way back. However, Webber took an 11-10 lead and never let it go. The Gyrenes worked a tie a couple more times after that but could never get back in front. Up 18-17, Webber went on a five point run to get to set point. The Gyrenes fended it off for three points, but Webber closed out the first frame 25-20.
The second frame is really when the Gyrenes turned it on. Ave Maria won the opening point off an attack error from Webber, and never let go of the lead. AMU had multiple four-point runs to keep their lead and stay in front of the Warriors. After Webber fended off one set point to make it 24-22, Beatriz Rissi spiked down the ball for a kill and the Gyrenes first set win in five matches.
The third set of the match was by far the most impressive of the season for Ave Maria. In contrast to the first two frames, Webber got on the board first and jumped out to a huge lead. The Warriors went on a 15-4 run to start the third set. Down by 11, Ave Maria kicked switched into another gear and went on a tear themselves. Sophomore Emily Child ended the Webber run and kicked off the Ave Maria streak with a kill. Ave Maria won four more points after that to get withing six of the Warriors. Child had two more kills during that stretch while Libero Ines Lopes got her first ace of the match.
A service error broke up the run, but it didn't deter the Gyrenes. Another Child kill gave Ave Maria the serve again and they rattled off five more points to get within one of Webber, 16-15. Child was serving during that stretch and got an ace as well.
Having lost their double-digit lead, Webber continued to stay in front for a bit until the Gyrenes completed to comeback and took a 20-19 lead. The advantage swapped hands one more time and Webber got to set point up 24-22. This time however, The Gyrenes fended off both set points to force extra volleyball. The Gyrenes cleaned up both points there and won the set 26-24, punctuating with another kill from Child. Of the 15 kills Ave Maria had in that set, more than half of them, eight, were from the sophomore from El Dorado Hills, California.
With the momentum completely on their side, the Gyrenes closed the match out in the fourth set. Ave Maria had to come from behind again as Webber took an early lead, but Ave Maria was in control of the set after taking an 11-10 lead. Down 24-22, Webber fended off one match point and was one away from forcing another round of free volleyball, but Elle Malczewski put the game away with a kill.
Child led the team with 14 kills, which is a season-high in a match for any Gyrene this year. Malczewski also hit double digits with 11 kills.
Caroline Myers was the leading setter with 30 assists. Ryan Getz also hit double digits was 14.
Defensively Lopes led the team with 20 digs. Kate Lyons and Greta Heiney also got into double digits with 13 and 10, respectively.
At the net, Rissi led the team with five blocks. Heiney, DeAnna Barrett and Lillian Dauses also had multiple blocks in the game.
Behind the line, Lopes and Child each had multiple aces.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 2-14 and 2-5 in conference play.
The win was part of a quadruple header for Ave Maria athletics, with the Gyrenes coming on top in every event/game. The other three wins were Men's Cross Country team finishing first in the Ave Maria Invitational, Women's Soccer defeating Warner, and Football beating Thomas.
The Gyrenes stay home their next match, battling the Florida National Conquistadors in a rescheduled match from September 26 that was moved due to Hurricane Helene. Opening serve is set for 6 p.m. and the match can be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
Check AveMariaGyrenes.com or Gyrene social media platforms for any schedule updates that may arise in conjunction with Tropical Storm Milton and its impact on the Florida peninsula.
