MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ave Maria Volleyball team got back on the right track Wednesday evening with a 3-0 win over the Florida Memorial Lions. The Gyrenes cruised through the first two sets, winning 25-16 and 25-18. The Lions made the Gyrenes work a little in the third set, but Ave Maria got it done with a 26-24 win.
The Gyrenes opened strong in the first set, racing out to a 9-4 lead. Ave Maria gained even more separation in the middle of the frame after a 5-0 run gave them an eight-point lead. AMU's largest lead of the set was nine points which they hit multiple times, including the final point in which Maylis DeTar perfectly placed a serve for an ace and a 25-16 win.
In the second set, Florida Memorial took a control multiple times in the set. Both teams pieced together a 5-0 run to snatch the advantage from each other and the Lions found themselves in front 16-14. Luckily, the Gyrenes locked in after that and won 11 of the last 13 points to win the set 25-18. A ball handling error clinched the frame for the Gyrenes.
The third and final frame was by far the closest set of the match. Neither squad could get separation from the other and the largest lead for each team was four points. Florida Memorial hit their four-point lead twice at 16-12 and 17-13. Ave Maria immediately responded with a 6-1 run to take a 19-18 lead. The Gyrenes continued to stack points together when they hit their four-point lead at 24-20.
Unfortunately, Florida Memorial took a page out of the Gyrenes' playbook and fought off four straight match points to tie the set at 24 and force extra points. A kill from Emily Child ended the run and put the Gyrenes back in the driver's seat of the set. In the next point, another ball handling error clinched the match for the Gyrenes.
Child and Elle Malczewski tied for the team lead in kills, each with 10 in the match. It is the eighth time this season Child has hit double digits and the sixth time for Malczewski.
Maria Teixiera was the leading setter for the Gyrenes with 16 assists. Myers also hit double figures with 12 assists.
Behind the service line, the Gyrenes logged six aces, getting two each from Ryan Getz, Mara Delyon and DeTar.
Defensively, DeTar led the team with 15 digs. Malczewski also hit double digits with 10, posting her second double-double of the season.
The win snaps a five-match losing streak for the Gyrenes and bumps their record to 7-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play. Elsewhere in the conference, Webber lost so Ave Maria is now tied with the Warriors for fifth place in the Sun Conference Standings.
Wednesday was the start of a three-game road stand for the Gyrenes. The stand continues with a Saturday match in Lakeland against the Southeastern Fire. Southeastern won the first meeting between the two teams, but Ave Maria did steal a set from the now ranked Southeastern Fire. Opening serve is set for 2 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
