WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — With their season on the line, Ave Maria played 11 extra points in the third set against Keiser Seahawks trying to extend the match. Unfortunately, the No. 3 seed Seahawks took the set to win the match 25-18, 25-14, 30-28. The loss knocks the Gyrenes out of the Sun Conference Tournament and closes the book on the 2024 season.
The match started off back and forth for most of the first set. The Gyrenes and Seahawks seesawed with the lead, with neither team getting more than a three point advantage. A Ryan Getz killed tied the set for the 10
th time at 16 points apiece. That is when Keiser went on a massive run. KU won nine of the last 11 points to take the first set.
The second set saw Keiser separate themselves immediately from the Gyrenes, jumping out to a seven-point lead before an Ave Maria timeout. The Seahawks continued to grow the lead on their way to another set win as the Gyrenes couldn't string together more than two points at a time.
The third set was not only the most competitive of the match, but the most competitive set all season long for the Gyrenes.
Keiser got out to a quick four point lead, but the Gyrenes fought their way back. In the middle of the set, Ave Maria strung four points in a row to take a 12-11 lead. From the point on in the set, neither team had more than a two point lead over the other.
The Gyrenes were the first to set point with a Beatriz Rissi kill that put them up 24-23. However, Keiser took the next point to tie the set up at 24 and force extra volleyball. Ave Maria got to set point three more times, but each time the Seahawks won the next point to get back to a draw. Keiser got to match point once, but Ave Maria returned the favor.
Tied at 28, Keiser took their second advantage of the extra time. The Gyrenes had one more chance to keep their season alive, but the Seahawks took the point to win the set 30-28.
Fifty-eight points is tied for the longest set of the season, with the Gyrenes falling 30-28 in a set against in the Cumberland Phoenix in the second match of the season.
Individually, Emily Child led the team in kills with 11. She was the only one in double figures. Caroline Myers was the leading setter with 22 assists. Ines Lopes led the team defensively with 16 digs. Greta Heiney also hit double figures with 10.
With the loss, Ave Maria finishes the season with a record 5-19.
On the year, Rissi led the team with 180 kills and a hitting percentage of .280. Rissi also led at the net with 58 blocks. Myers led the team in assists with 392 and service aces with 22. On the defensive side, Lopes led the team with 378 digs.
The Gyrenes now look to the spring and Beach Volleyball season. This past spring, Ave Maria was the runner up in the Sun Conference and made it all the way to the NAIA National Quarterfinals.
They finished the year ranked No. 8 in the country. The season starts on the road at Florida Southern February 15, 2025. Ave Maria's first home match in the sand is March 11, 2025, against Barry University.
