FORT WORTH, Texas — The Ave Maria Volleyball team lost their first two matches in the Lone Star State Friday. The Gyrenes got swept 3-0 by the Bethel Threshers in the morning session of the Texas Two-Step Tournament, then lost 3-1 to the Texas Wesleyan Rams in the opening day's finale.
The first two sets of the opening match with the Threshers were dominated by Bethel. Ave Maria lost each by ten or more points.
In the first set, Ave Maria took an early lead, doubling up Bethel 10-5. The Threshers battled back to tie the set at 12 and bounced a few more points back and forth.
The Gyrenes were the recipients of a service error from Bethel to bring them within two points and make the score 16-14. Unfortunately, the Threshers then went on an eight-point run to get to set point. AMU got one point back, but Bethel was too far ahead as they won the opening set 25-15.
The second set was even tougher for the Gyrenes. In the middle frame, Bethel did not have one long run like the opening match, but multiple three to five point runs to win the set 25-12.
The final set of the match was the closest of them all. Fifteen ties and seven lead changes between the two teams made it a back and forth set. Ave Maria led for 19 points in the set, and even as late as to have a 23-22 lead. However, Bethel stormed back again and won the last three points to win 25-23.
Freshman Greta Heiney led the team with seven kills. Ryan Gets was the leading setter with 14 assists in the match and Ines Lopes led the team defensively with 17 digs. Lopes also had three aces in the match, the only Gyrene with more than one.
Ave Maria closed out Friday with an evening match against the Texas Wesleyan Rams. In the second match of a doubleheader, the Gyrenes won their first set since their opening match in dramatic fashion.
The Gyrenes found themselves down 22-14 in the first set but went on a six-point run to get within two of the Rams. Texas Wesleyan got a point back, but another run from the Gyrenes tied the game at 23 with a kill from Emily Child.
Abbey Grose then hit an ace off the serve to give Ave Maria their first lead of the set since the scored the opening point.
At set point, the Gyrenes couldn't close it out, so the frame went to free volleyball. Both teams got a point to remain tied at 25, but finally Ave Maria pulled away.
Heiney got back-to-back kills to give the Gyrenes the first set 27-25.
Despite the exciting first set, Ave Maria could not replicate their success.
The Rams won the next three sets 25-20, 25-13 and 25-18 to win the match.
Beatriz Rissi finished the match with most kills for the Gyrenes, clocking in with 12. Heiney and Kylie Lacy also hit double digits, each with 10. Getz was the leading setter with 22 assists. Caroline Myers was right behind her with 20 assists. Lopes led the team defensively with 17 digs for the second match in a row.
With the two losses, Ave Maria falls to 0-5 to start the year.
The Gyrenes stay in the Lone Star State for two more matches to close out their weekend trip to Texas. The day starts with a match against host Nelson University and concludes with a neutral site matchup with Oklahoma Wesleyan.
