AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-0) vs. Southeastern University (0-0)
When: September 5, 2020
Where: Miami Gardens Fla., FMU Wellness Center 
Tip-off: 2 p.m.
Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2019, Loss 2-3
Live Stream Video & Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fmulions/index.htm | Video
https://fmuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary | Stats
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Winning a championship is an equally grueling and monumental feat. Setting out to defend that championship with the hopes of winning another, is that much more grueling and that much more monumental.
 
That's what FMU's women's volleyball team will set out to do beginning Saturday when it hosts Sun Conference foe Southeastern in the FMU Wellness Center.
 
The game, which is set to begin at 2 p.m., will be limited to a capacity of 250 fans in accordance with the school's COVID-19 fan protocols. Additional measures, including temperature checks for all fans and mandatory face coverings, are also in place to ensure the safety of all in attendance.
 
FMU enters the 2020 season as the No. 2 ranked team in the Sun Conference's preseason poll, behind No. 1 Keiser University – who the Lions defeated in route to their conference title – and ahead of the No. 3 Fire.
 
Head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton enters her second season leading FMU and has built a roster that is set up to make a run at another title this season – and possibly beyond.
 
Sophomore Biancaliz Cruz returns for FMU, looking to show that her 2019 campaign – in which she was among the team's leaders in points and kills and earned First Team All-Sun Conference honors – was no fluke. Also among the team's seven returners are senior libero/defensive specialist Keisha Santana Roldan, a Second Team All-Sun Conference performer this past season, senior defensive specialist Francheska Rivera. 
 
Standing in the Lions' way Saturday will be a Southeastern team that has had FMU's number historically.
 
Entering Saturday's match, which will be streamed live by new FMU partner Black College Sports Network (BCSN), Southeastern has defeated Florida Memorial in 23 straight matches. Also, the Fire – which are undefeated in season-opening matches under its current head coach – has its own returning First Team All-Sun Conference performer in Emily Boehlein.
 
Where the Lions will look to gain an advantage will be in its overall talent and strong defensive play – supplied by Rivera, Roldan Santana, and others – but also its intangible quality of perseverance.
 
It was FMU's perseverance this past season that allowed it to rally back from 2-1 deficits in each of its three postseason-tournament matches and capture the school's first Sun Conference title – in any sport. And it'll be that same perseverance that could elevate the Lions to a victory Saturday.