WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Ave Maria Volleyball team fell in three straight sets to the Keiser Seahawks Wednesday night. The Gyrenes had trouble putting runs together in the midweek conference game, with their longest stretch being four points in the second set. Keiser won the match 25-19, 25-18 and 25-12.

The first set was the closest of the three. The Gyrenes led for a few beginning points, jumping out to a 5-3 advantage. After a slight Keiser lead, the Gyrenes tied it at six, but that was the last tie of the set. The Seahawks jumped ahead and never let Ave Maria back into the match, usually being ahead by five or six points.

In the second set, the Gyrenes put together their longest run of four points in a row to take a 9-7 lead. Unfortunately, again the Seahawks did not let the Gyrenes lead for long as they retook it a few points later with a 5-0 run of their own. The deficit was too great for the Gyrenes to overcome and didn't get close again to the Seahawks like in the first set.

The final set was all Keiser. Ave Maria took an early lead much like the first two sets, but this lead evaporated much quicker. After getting ahead 3-2, the Seahawks went on a 13-0 run to take a 15-3 lead. The Gyrenes got a couple of points to break up the run, but Keiser still led 20-5 late in the set. Ave Maria managed a few more points but fell 25-12.

Individually, Beatriz Rissi led the team with 10 kills. Caroline Myers was the leading setter with 12 assists in the three sets. At the net, Greta Heiney and Lillian Dauses tied for the team lead, each with three blocks. Behind the line, three different Gyrenes, Ines Lopes, Heiney and Mehan Klockner, had an ace. Defensively Lopes led the team with nine digs.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 1-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

The Gyrenes were supposed to play Thursday, September 26, against the Florida National Conquistadors, but that game has been postponed to a later date due to Hurricane Helene.

The Gyrenes are back in action Wednesday, October 2, against the St. Thomas Bobcats at the Tom Golisano Field House. The opening serve is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.