MIAMI, Fla. – When Florida Memorial University head volleyball coach
Marrita Crockett-Moulton made her team's schedule for the 2020 season, she knew she was putting her team against some of the toughest teams the country had to offer.
The Lady Lions went up against a pair of seasoned beach volleyball programs Saturday, losing to Missouri State University and San Diego City College in their two games on the opening day of the Florida International University Beach Bash Tournament.
The tournament, which is being played at FIU's South Campus' beach volleyball courts and will resume on Saturday morning, truly tested FMU's mettle.
Florida Memorial went up against Missouri State in its first match of the day. The Bears, a top 40 team nationally, took all five matches from the Lions – taking all in just two sets.
FMU, which will face University of New Orleans and Sun Conference rival Webber International University Saturday, fared much better in its second match of the day. The Lady Lions stood toe-to-toe with San Diego City College before ultimately falling 3-2.
The pair of
Francheska Rivera and
Alanis Santana picked up a straight-sets victory, winning the No. 4 doubles match 21-15, 21-12.
Azmabeth Infante and
Keisha Santana Roldan rallied back from losing the first set to take the No. 5 doubles match 17-21, 21-10, 15-8.
FMU's match with the Knights could've easily gone in its direction, as the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 matches all went to three sets.
Results
Missouri State University 5, Florida Memorial University 0
1. K. Larsen/A. Tinsley def.
Rachele Mancinelli /
Biancaliz Cruz, 21-13, 21-12
2. K. Sater/C. Tome def.
Jesennia Bonilla /
Fatima Rajaee, 21-4, 21-6
3. R. Tam/G. Cook def.
Francheska Rivera /
Alanis Santana, 21-13, 21-11
4. P. Jaime/T. Penick def.
Adriana Soto /
Jazmin Molina, 21-18, 21-9
5. P. McAllen/S. Brewster def.
Keisha Santana Roldan /
Azmabeth Infante, 21-6, 21-12
San Diego City College 3, Florida Memorial 2
1. D. Powers/H. Williamson def.
Jesennia Bonilla /
Rachele Mancinelli, 21-14, 20-22, 15-10
2. A. Fletes/K. Hopkins def.
Biancaliz Cruz /
Fatima Rajaee, 15-21, 21-8, 15-10
3. A. Stone/J. Ortegon def.
Jazmin Molina /
Adriana Soto, 19-21, 21-12, 15-11
4.
Francheska Rivera /
Alanis Santana def. J. Yee/M. Wonders, 21-15, 21-12
5.
Keisha Santana Roldan /
Azmabeth Infante def. A. Holloway/K. Pena, 17-21, 21-10, 15-8
