MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Feeding off the energy of its largest home crowd of the season, Florida Memorial University's volleyball team showed grit and toughness, but couldn't overcome visiting Keiser University and fell 3-1 (18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25).
 
In a matchup of the top two teams in the Sun Conference's preseason poll – Lions at No. 2 and the Seahawks at No. 1 – it was Keiser that won the first of two regular season meetings and remained undefeated.
 
The boisterous crowd was the product of Wednesday being Athletic Director's Honor Roll night – the night in which Florida Memorial University's athletic department recognized student-athletes who achieved a 3.0 or higher grade-point average.
 
After falling into a 2-0 set hole, Florida Memorial (3-4, 3-4 Sun Conference) picked up its intensity as its home crowd began to do the same during the third set. The Lions rallied from a 12-8 deficit – going on a 15-7 run – and took a 23-19 lead, much to the delight of the FMU crowd. The Seahawks made one last push, cutting FMU's lead to 23-22, but Florida Memorial got a kill from senior Jessenia Bonilla and forced an attack error for points 24 and 25 respectively.
 
All of the Lions seemed to be galvanized by the increased cheers, but Bonilla and senior Sammyra Albarran truly reveled in it – with Bonilla urging the crowd to cheer louder and Albarran letting out aggressive yells after points in the third set.
 
For the third straight match, sophomore Biancaliz Cruz led the Lions in kills, totaling 15 Wednesday. Cruz also added eight digs and a service ace. Albarran recorded a game- and season-high seven service aces, four of which coming in the second set that sparked a small run for FMU. The senior also added six kills. Adriana Soto finished with 10 kills; Francheska Rivera finished with a team-high 25 assists; and senior Keisha Santana added to Sun Conference-leading digs total – racking up 17 Wednesday.
 
As hard as FMU fought in each set, the Seahawks would to stem the tide. As the Lions had been in its victories this season, it was Keiser that was methodical in its approach Wednesday. The Seahawks committed fewer errors than FMU – including an error-less fourth set – and nearly doubled the Lions in hitting percentage.
 
Although Florida Memorial falls below .500 for the first time this season, head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton will have 10 days before her team takes the court again – when it travels to Lakeland, Florida to take on Southeastern University.