AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (2-1, 2-1) at Webber International Warriors (3-1, 1-1)
When: Saturday, September 19, 2020
Where: Webber International, Babson Park, Fla. | Sabbagh Athletic Center
First Serve: 6 p.m.
Last Meeting: Oct. 26, 2019, Won 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-11)
Live Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/webber/
Live Stats: https://webberathletics.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's volleyball team will be looking to get back to its winning ways when it travels to Sun Conference foe Webber International University Saturday to face the Warriors in a 6 p.m. match in WIU's Sabbagh Athletic Center.
 
The Lions (2-1, 2-1 Sun Conference) dropped its previous match – a home loss against Ave Maria University – but had to play that game with just eight players available. Having won the first two games of the year with a "nine strong" roster, FMU sophomore Azmabeth Infante missed last week's game with an upper extremity injury – leaving Florida Memorial without its tallest player and only listed middle blocker.
 
FMU head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton said Infante's absence gravely affected the team's lineup opened the door for the team's struggles last weekend, but also said that fatigue was a factor as her Lions were playing their third match in a week's time.
 
By fortuitous happenstance, Crockett-Moulton's squad received a much-needed respite. Florida Memorial's Sept. 16 game against Florida National University was canceled, giving the Lions a full week to rest and prepare for the Warriors.
 
Crockett-Moulton said the extra time off could allow Infante to return the lineup as well as possibly opening the door for the return of some of the other currently sidelined Lions.
 
Saturday, Florida Memorial will be walking into a matchup with a Webber International (3-1, 1-1) team that's riding a three-game winning streak after the Warriors knocked off Warner University 3-2 this past Wednesday. WIU has benefitted from a strong early campaign from a pair of first-year players. 6-foot freshman middle blocker Nora Burgos-Heredia has led the team in kills in two of the three games during the team's winning streak while freshman libero Kiersten Tisdale has been the team's leader in assists and digs.
 
While Webber International trails (24-2) in the all-time series between the programs, FMU has defeated the Warriors in the last two meetings. Both times, Crockett-Moulton's squad dominated with Sammyra Albarran and Biancaliz Cruz turning in leading performances.
 
Success for the Lions won't only hinge on Albarran and Cruz, FMU's confidence comes from the rest of its senior leadership – in Keisha Roldan Santana and Francheska Rivera – and its championship resolve.