FMU Putting Undefeated Home & Conference Record On The Line, Hosts Rival St. Thomas Wednesday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-3, 5-0) vs. St. Thomas University Bobcats (10-5, 4-1)
When: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
First Serve: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: Sept. 9, 2020, Won 3-0
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University will be putting its undefeated home and conference records on the line when it hosts rival St. Thomas University Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the FMU Wellness Center.

Following their win over Webber International University this past week, the Lions (6-3, 5-0 The Sun Conference) have won five straight conference matches – tying the program record for most consecutive conference wins. FMU had two separate stints of winning five straight conference matches during the 2019 season.

Wednesday game, which could be tabbed as the Sun Conference's game of the week, will be open to both home and visiting fans. Admission is free, fans will only be asked to wear facial coverings while inside the arena and maintain social distance when available.

Florida Memorial has vastly outperformed its preseason prediction to be the fifth-best team in the Sun Conference this up to this point – sitting comfortably atop the conference standings while featuring the conference's top blocks leader (Kimberlie Correa) and two of the top-10 points producers up to this point (No. 4 Biancaliz Cruz and No. 8 Sammyra Albarran).

Albarran had one of her best performances of the seasons this past week, dominating the Warriors by totaling 16 kills, 7 service, and 14 digs – all game-highs – ultimately earning TSC Attacker of the Week recognition this past Monday.

Standing opposite the Lions Wednesday will be a St. Thomas University team that has won seven of its past eight games and currently sits behind FMU in the No. 2 spot in the conference standings.

The Bobcats (10-5, 4-1) have a handful of impressive wins on their resume, sweeping Keiser University and Ave Maria University recently – two teams that took a set from Florida Memorial during their matchups this season. However, St. Thomas' lone loss during that stint was a 0-3 sweep at the hands of College of Coastal Georgia – a team that the Lions swept back on September 18th.

STU does have a couple of standouts that could put pressure on the Lions in athletic graduate senior middle blocker/hitter Tyran Chenault and freshman libero Bianca Grassi, a three-time winner of the TSC Defender of the Week honor this season.

FMU head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton will need to get solid games from usual offensive stalwarts Cruz, Albarran along with strong play at the net from the Correa sisters – middle blockers Daphinie and Kimberlie. The x-factor for the Lions could be outside hitter Taira Cottingham. Cottingham, a graduate senior transfer from Alabama State University, flashed bright since being added to the active roster and could help power Florida Memorial to its seventh straight victory.

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsVolleyball | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#7 Biancaliz Cruz: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#17 Sammyra Albarran: RS/OH; 5' 8"; Graduate Student

#6 Kimberlie Correa: MB; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#7 Biancaliz Cruz
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#17 Sammyra Albarran
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student
: RS/OH

#6 Kimberlie Correa
: 6' 2"; Junior
: MB

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#7 Biancaliz Cruz

#17 Sammyra Albarran

#6 Kimberlie Correa

Players Mentioned

#7 Biancaliz Cruz

#17 Sammyra Albarran

#6 Kimberlie Correa