LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's tennis team split two conference matches in Polk County this weekend, falling to Southeastern University, 4-0, before picking up a 4-0 victory over the Royals of Warner University on Saturday. The victory win over Warner gave Ave Maria their first conference win of the 2024 season, and put AMU at 1-2 with with four matches, all against nationally-recognized opponents, remaining on the conference slate.
The weekend started against the third-ranked team in the nation, the Southeastern University Fire. The highlight of the day came in singles play, where Vitoria Barandas took the first set from the 19th player in the nation, Martina Picardi, 6-2. Barandas trailed just 4-3 in the second set, and would have been in position to win the match had the affair not been stopped when the Fire achieved their clinching point.
Clara Penido also performed well in singles play, winning her first set at the second singles flight, 6-4 over Neleah Neiberline, in another match that went unfinished. SEU dominated apart from Barandas and Penido, winning at the second and third doubles flights to take the first point, then winning in the third, fourth, and fifth singles flights to clinch the match.
It was much easier for the Gyrenes on Saturday, as Ave Maria rolled to a 4-0 win over Warner. Warner entered the match with only five players, so the Gyrenes needed just one doubles win and two singles triumphs to take the match. The doubles win came quickly, as the top team of Barandas and Penido swept their way to a 6-0 victory.
Barandas finished off a perfect Saturday with another sweep at the top singles flight, winning 6-0, 6-0. Penido then finished off Ave Maria's first conference victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win at the second flight. Coupled with the win at the sixth flight, given to Danna Nunez by forfeit, Ave Maria wasted little time in putting the Royals away for the 4-0 win.
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.
