MACON, Ga.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team earned their first win of the season in dominant fashion, taking down one of the nation's top 40 teams, the Phoenix of Cumberland University, by a 4-0 score. The Gyrenes lost only two sets on the day, ending a five-match losing streak with the win at the courts of Middle Georgia State University. The match was the first of two this weekend for AMU on the Middle Georgia campus.
Ave Maria needed just one win in doubles, as the third flight team of Elizabeth Pince and Melana Mourad were awarded a win by default. Needing just one win, the Gyrenes got it at the top singles position to take the doubles point. The team of Vitoria Barandas and Clara Penido rolled to a 6-2 victory at the top flight. Cumberland did win the match at the second doubles flight, but Ave Maria still moved into singles play with the lead.
Similar to doubles play, the Gyrenes earned a default win in singles at the sixth flight, immediately giving Ave Maria a 2-0 lead. The clinching wins came at the first and fifth singles flights, thanks to wins from Barandas and Abigail Rich. Barandas cruised in her match at the top flight, completing an undefeated day with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Rich was just as dominant in her win at the fifth flight, defeating Cumberland's fifth player by a score of 6-4, 6-1.
Had the match not been played to clinch, the Gyrenes were poised for a 7-0 victory over the Phoenix. In all three unfinished matches, the Ave Maria player led, including two - Penido at the second flight and Regina Ruiz at the third - that were just one point away from winning their match. The lone match that made it to the third set - the fourth flight tilt between Nicolle Koop and Kaede Hatano - had Koop up 1-0 in the third when the match was concluded.
Another quality opponent awaits the Gyrenes on Saturday, as Ave Maria's trip to the Peach State continues. Ave Maria will battle the No. 11 team in the nation, the host Knights of Middle Georgia State University. The battle between two of the nation's top 20 teams is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The last meeting between the schools came almost two years ago, a 5-2 win for the Gyrenes played in Lakeland on March 23, 2022.
