AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Gyrenes finally got back in the sand as the Ave Maria Beach Volleyball team kicked their season off Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over Sun Conference foe Warner.

The even flights kicked the day as pairs two and four were the first to compete in the match. Beatriz Rissi and Maria Teixiera in the fourth flight were the first to finish as Ave Maria took the first point a of game with 21-14, 21-8 win. It was the freshman Teixeira's first ever beach volleyball match and the pair of Rissi and Teixeira got their first ever win.

The second flight went to the Royals as Warner tied the match up at one.

The next two flights to hit the sand were pairs three and five. The fifth pair was the first to finish as Maylis DeTar and Abbey Grose put the Gyrenes back in front 2-1. The two swept their two sets winning 21-11 and 21-12. Like Teixeira, DeTar is also a freshman on the team and got her first ever win as a pair with Grose.

Ave Maria could have clinched the day in flight two, but the Royals turned in a two-set sweep to tie the match at two. The season opener wound up being decided in the final flight between the two teams' top pair.

Ryan Getz and Ines Lopes got the billing as the top pair for the Gyrenes. The two did not team up in 2025 but contributed a combined 19 of Ave Maria's 48 wins last year. In the 2026 season opener, the two made quick work of the Royals' top pair, winning 21-13 and 21-8 in a two set sweep. The allowed the fewest amount of points from the Warner counterparts and need just 36 minutes to secure the win.

With the victory, Ave Maria starts the new season 1-0.

The Gyrenes are back home February 27-28 as they host their first conference pod of the season. Ave Maria will take on RV William Carey, No. 7 Mobile and RV Loyola. St. Thomas and Florida Memorial will also be in town taking on the three non-Floridian conference schools. The first match begins Friday, February 27, at 8:30 a.m.