AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team nearly toppled an NCAA Division II opponent to earn their first win of the season on Tuesday, but fell just short in a 4-3 loss to the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Gyrenes won the doubles point and took two singles matches, but couldn't get the final point to knock off the visitors from West Palm Beach.

Thanks to a dramatic win at the top spot, the Gyrenes started the day with a point coming out of doubles play. Abigail Rich and Regina Ruiz earned the first doubles win with a 6-3 victory at the third flight, while PBA won the second flight, 6-0. With both teams looking on, the duo of Vitoria Barandas and Clara Penido earned a clutch win for the Gyrenes, taking the tiebreaker 7-2 to claim a 7-6 win at the top spot.

After her win in doubles play, Barandas continued to play well in singles. The reigning All-American rolled in her match at the second flight, defeating Alina Hoermann by a 6-4, 6-2 score. AMU's other singles win came from junior Abigail Rich, marking her second straight singles win. The San Diego native rallied from a loss in the first set, taking the second set, 6-3, before a 10-5 win in the third set to claim the point in the fifth flight.

Unfortunately, the Gyrenes couldn't finish off the Sailfish, who claimed the other four singles matches. The Gyrenes had their chances to win, with three of Palm Beach Atlantic's four wins coming in three sets. Ave Maria held one set to none leads in two of those matches - at the third and fourth flights - but rallies from the Sailfish allowed PBA to emerge victorious.

The upcoming schedule remains difficult for the Gyrenes, who will battle two nationally recognized teams later this week in the Peach State. The Gyrenes will play (RV) Cumberland University in a neutral site affair on Friday, then will finish the week with a road match against No. 11 Middle Georgia in Cochran. Both matches will be played at the home courts of Middle Georgia, with opening serve of both matches scheduled for 9:30 a.m.