Florida Memorial University Sports Information

Women's Beach Volleyball 3/5/2021 2:16:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

FMU To Host Webber International In First Home Beach Volleyball Match Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (2-0, 2-0) vs. Webber International University Warriors (3-0, 2-0)
When: Saturday, March 6, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Beach Courts
First Serve: 11:30 a.m.
Last Meeting: March 7, 2020, Loss 0-5
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: None

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – As Dorothy said in the American cinema classic, The Wizard of Oz, "there's no place like home".

Florida Memorial University's beach volleyball team will get to experience home court advantage for the first time in program history this weekend when it hosts Webber International University and St. Thomas University for a Sun Conference tri-duel match Saturday.

The Lady Lions will only take on Webber International Saturday – at 11:30 a.m. – while the Warriors will take on St. Thomas in the opening match of the tri-duel at 9:30 a.m.

Florida Memorial broke ground on its beach volleyball courts May 2020; creating a three-court complex complete with bleachers for fans, a rinse station for players, and space for team tents. Each court is filled with a special beach-like sand that wicks and drains moisture and includes high-rise chairs for the game official.

FMU's beach team has been able to practice on the courts since the beginning of 2021 but Saturday will mark the first time that the Lady Lions will be able to host a competition on its home court.

Per the University's most recent health and safety protocols, a limited number of fans will be allowed to attend Saturday's match. However, no outside or fans of the visiting teams will be permitted to attend. Only FMU fans and/or current Florida Memorial University students – who have proof of a recent negative COVID-19 rapid test via a school-issued wristband – will be allowed to attend.

Also, Saturday's matches will be live streamed and can be viewed for free.

For Florida Memorial, Saturday's match is a return to the sand after an extended respite thanks to a scheduled off-week. The Lady Lions (2-0, 2-0 The Sun Conference) won its first two matches in a season-opening tri-duel at St. Thomas on February 20th – defeating the Bobcats and Southeastern University – but has been off since then. They did play a non-counting exhibition at Florida International University this past week, but the team has been able to use the time off to mend a few minor injuries and practice.

When they were on the sand, the Lady Lions did live up to their No. 1 preseason ranking as did preseason pair to watch Agustina Busque and Adriana Soto. Busque and Soto won both of their matches on Feb. 20 and earned Sun Conference Pair of the Week honors for the first week of the season.

In taking on Webber International, FMU will be facing another team that has gotten off to a strong start this season. The Warriors (3-0, 2-0) won its first three matches and had its No. 3 pair Jessica Terry and LaRee Crockett earn Pair of the Week honors this past Tuesday.

Aside from Busque and Soto, Lions head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton will need her other pairs to have a good day in the sand Saturday. FMU's roster recently expanded, adding Jesennia Bonilla – who played for the Lions' indoor team this past season – and Dana Noel, a beach-only transfer player, and they'll need a full team effort as they look to win its first-ever home beach volleyball match.

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Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsVolleyball | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#1 Adriana Soto: B; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#3 Agustina Busque: D; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#21 Dana Noel: D; 5' 5"; Junior

#11 Jesennia Bonilla: B; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 Adriana Soto
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: B

#3 Agustina Busque
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: D

#21 Dana Noel
: 5' 5"; Junior
: D

#11 Jesennia Bonilla
: 5' 9"; Senior
: B

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned