ORLANDO, Fla. — The Gyrenes scored their first point of the season as Clara Penido won her singles match against the NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. However, that was the only point Ave Maria got as they fell 6-1.

The match against the Cardinals was originally set for Tuesday, March 3, but due to heavy rain in the Orlando area, the match was played Wednesday morning.

Saginaw Valley had to win just one doubles set to earn the opening point as the Gyrenes only had two pairs. The Cardinals took the top pairing 6-1, taking a 1-0 lead in the match. SVSU was up 5-1 in the other pairing when the round was called.

In the singles round, Ave Maria got their first win of the 2026 season as Penido took down Claudia Calderero Prado in three sets. Penido fell behind early, dropping the first set 6-4. The graduate student fought back and took the next set 7-5, forcing a 10-point match tiebreaking set. Penido cruised through the final frame with ease, winning 10-5 and putting the Gyrenes on the board.

The other four matches played in the singles round all went the Cardinals way and ended in two sets. The sixth pairing was forfeited due to the Gyrenes having five players.

With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 0-3 to start the season.

The Gyrenes are back in action Wednesday afternoon as they play their initially scheduled match against Seton Hill. It is the first ever meeting between Ave Maria and the NCAA Division II school out of Pennsylvania.