AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Women's Tennis team opened the 2026 season at home Friday as they played host to the Lynn Fighting Knights. The Gyrenes fell to the NCAA Division II foe 7-0.

The doubles round did not last long as Lynn took both sets 6-0 and 6-1. Elizabeth Pince and Maria Hofmeister, both returners from last season, were the duo to win the lone game for the Gyrenes.

In the singles round, none of the five matches reached a third set as Lynn swept the Gyrenes on the day. Melana Mourad won the most games among the Gyrenes, snatching a total of six against her opponent. The junior from Naples fell 6-1 in the first set but won five in the next set and forced an extra game which unfortunately went to the Lynn player to win the point.

Pince won the second-most games with five total, falling 6-4, 6-1.

With the loss, Ave Maria starts the season 0-1.

The Gyrenes will wait a couple of weeks before returning back out to the courts for their next match. Ave Maria is back in action February 22 as they travel to the University of Tampa to take on the Spartans, another NCAA Division II school from the Sunshine State Conference like Lynn. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2013.