LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team split two conference matches in Polk County this weekend, falling to Southeastern University, 4-0, before picking up a 4-1 victory over the Royals of Warner University. The victory moved the Gyrenes to 2-1 in Sun Conference play with four matches, all against nationally-ranked opponents, remaining on the conference slate.

The weekend started against the sixth-ranked team in the nation, the Southeastern University Fire. Ave Maria did earn a major doubles victory, but that would prove to be their only win of the day. The doubles team of Anderson Duggan and Gaston Erhardt defeated the seventh-ranked team in the nation, SEU's Bruno Pessoa and Diego Menendez Vina, by a 6-3 score. Although SEU won the other two matches to claim the doubles point, it did mark a statement win for AMU's top team.

Southeastern then won three singles matches to secure a 4-0 win in the match. The Fire's victories came in the second, fourth, and sixth singles flights, and all came in straight sets. The best singles performance came from Duggan, who played former Gyrene Alejandro Orihuela even in the first set, with the score tied at six when the match was clinched. 

Ave Maria's fortunes turned on Saturday, as the Gyrenes earned a 4-1 victory over Warner to get back above .500 in conference play. Warner took the top doubles match, but AMU's second and third teams responded to give the doubles point to the Gyrenes. Tom Alias and Joao Felipe Almeida won by a 6-4 score at the second flight, while the brother duo of Pedro and Juan Ignacio Garcia swept their way to 6-0 win at the third flight.

The Gyrenes clinched the match with wins at the first, second, and fourth singles flights, while Warner did earn a win at the third flight. Erhardt cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win at the top flight, while Tom Alias was even more dominant, winning 6-1, 6-1 at the second flight. The final win was provided by Pedro Garcia, a 6-0, 6-4 winner at the fourth flight.

All four of Ave Maria's remaining Sun Conference matches will be at home, beginning with matches March 22 and 23. The Gyrenes will host the College of Coastal Georgia on Friday, then welcome the Bees of SCAD-Savannah on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to begin with men's play at 1:00 p.m., with women's play following.