BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — The Ave Maria Volleyball team concluded their four-game stay in the Prairie State Saturday, dropping both matches of a doubleheader to Bethel and Mount Mercy. The Gyrenes lost the first match 3-0 to Bethel. In the second match, Ave Maria forced a fifth set but lost to Mount Mercy 3-2.
The first match went very quickly as Ave Maria lost to Bethel 25-12, 25-11, 25-13. The Gyrenes got off to a nice start in the first, building a 6-2 lead with four straight points, however that is the last time the Gyrenes would ever lead by more than one point in a set. The Pilots quickly regained the lead to win the first frame and then took the next two to complete the sweep.
Individually, DeAnna Barrett led the team with five kills while Caroline Myers led the team with eight assists. Behind the line, Maylis DeTar had the only ace of the match for the Gyrenes. Defensively, Abbey Grose recorded 13 digs, and Lucy Hudson led the team at the net with three blocks.
The final match of the weekend was the closest match of the Tigers Kickoff Invite for the Gyrenes as they fell in five sets to the Mount Mercy Mustangs. The match started off great for AMU with a big 25-14 win in the first frame. The Gyrenes largest run of the set was a 5-0 stretch at the end of the frame to secure the point.
Mount Mercy won the next two sets to take a 2-1 lead, but the Gyrenes fought back. Ave Maria led by as much as eight points in the frame, but the Mustangs made a push and took a late 21-20 lead. After a much-needed timeout ended a 5-0 run for Mount Mercy, three straight Mustang errors put the Gyrenes back in front 23-21. A few points later, Greta Heiney slammed down a kill to secure the set and tie the match at two.
The fifth and final set started off back and forth between the two teams, but eventually the Mustangs pulled away. Mount Mercy won the final frame 15-9 and took the match 3-2.
Individually, Ryan Getz led the team with a career-high 13 kills, passing her previous high mark from 2023 by three. Heiney also reached double digits in kills, matching her career-high of 12 which she set the day prior against Grace. Assist-wise, freshman Maria Texiera led the team with 32, a season-high for any Gyrene. Behind the line, the Gyrenes had nine service aces as a team with Texiera leading the way as well with three. Defensively, the Gyrenes had a staunch presence at the net with 13 total blocks. Lucy Hudson led the team by contributing on seven of those blocks, two solo and five assisted. Elsewhere, DeTar led the team with 21 digs.
With the two losses, Ave Maria falls to 0-4.
The Gyrenes come back home to Florida after the season opening trip to Illinois and will take a week off before returning to the court. Ave Maria is back in action Tuesday, August 26, in Temple Terrace as they take on the Florida College Falcons. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on the Florida College YouTube Channel.
