BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team faced one of the top NCAA Division II teams in the nation Friday afternoon, heading across Alligator Alley for a meeting with Lynn University, who entered the match ranked third in the nation. The Gyrenes grabbed a point with a win at the sixth singles position, but couldn't pull any other upsets in a 6-1 loss to the Fighting Knights.

Lynn, a contender for the Division II national title, established their dominance early, winning two of the three doubles matches - at the second and third flights - by 6-0 scores. The lone match that was somewhat competitive was at the top flight, which saw Lynn's team of Zofia Podbiol and Kristen Younes battle Ave Maria's team of Vitoria Barandas and Clara Penido, with the Lynn team emerging with a 6-3 win.

Ave Maria's top singles performance came from junior Abigail Rich. The San Diego native played a shortened match with Lynn's Maja Stajszczak, played to one eight-point set with the match already decided. Rich took advantage of her opportunity at the sixth flight, picking up her first dual win of the season with an 8-4 victory.

The second closest match came at the third flight, where AMU's Regina Ruiz and Lynn's Jade Marie went to a third set. Ruiz jumped out to a 6-2 victory in the first set, but Marie answered with a 6-2 win of her own in the second. Marie carried that momentum into the third, taking the match with a 6-0 win. The remaining four singles matches all ended in straight sets, with Lynn players winning all four.

After starting the season on the road, Ave Maria will finally a play a match on the AMU courts this coming Tuesday. The Gyrenes will welcome the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic University, the first of two meetings between the schools this season. Tuesday's match will also end a run of NCAA Division II opponents for the Gyrenes, and will be AMU's lone home match in the month of February. Opening serve is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the AMU Tennis Complex.