WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Ave Maria Volleyball team closed out their stay in the Tar Heel State with win, beating the Bryan Lions 3-1 Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes took the match in four sets, winning 27-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-17.
The opening frame of the match was the first set to go to extras this season for the Gyrenes, winning 27-25. The two teams were neck and neck with each other for the entire set. Bryan got to set point first, leading 24-23, but a kill from Malczewski evened up the score and guaranteed free volleyball. Bryan put the pressure on again by winning the next point, but the Gyrenes took the final three points to win the set. Kaitlin Anderson and Emily Child each got a kill in that stretch to win the frame. In total, Ave Maria logged 16 kills in the set, the highest total of the season.
Ave Maria was in control of the second set the entire way and never trailed during the frame. The Gyrenes did not put together any long runs during the second set but just had a constant steady pressure against the Lions as they won the frame 25-22.
With their backs against the wall, Bryan came out swinging in the third set and won 25-21. Despite dropping the frame, the Gyrenes logged 15 kills. What hurt the Gyrenes were the eight attack errors, their highest total in set during the match.
In the fourth set, the Lions took an early lead winning eight of the first 11 points. Ave Maria squashed any idea of a Bryan comeback though as they went on an 8-0 run. Suddenly the Gyrenes went from trailing by five to leading by three. Bryan never recovered after that and the Gyrenes took the set with the largest margin of the afternoon at 25-17.
Ave Maria finished the match with 54 kills, their highest mark of the season. Three players hit double figures with Anderson at 14, Child at 13 and Malczewski at 10.
Caroline Myers was the leading setter with 19 assists. She was followed by Maria Teixiera with 15.
Behind the line, the Gyrenes logged seven aces, three of which were from Myers. Four other Gyrenes also logged aces.
Defensively, Lucy Hudson led the team at the net with four blocks, two assisted and two solo. Ellen Mowbray was right behind her with three solo blocks. On the back row, Maylis DeTar led the team with 21 digs. Malczewski was next on the team with 16 digs, posting her first double-double of the season.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 3-0 for the first time in program history.
The Gyrenes will take a week off before returning to the court Tuesday, September 1, in Temple Terrace to take on the Florida College Falcons. It the first match of a two-game series this season between the two teams. The Gyrenes are also looking for their first win against the Falcons since 2021. Opening serve is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on Florida College's YouTube channel.
