Florida Memorial University Sports Information

Women's Beach Volleyball 3/6/2021 3:08:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Lions Get Edged Out By Warriors In First-Ever Home Beach Match

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – While Saturday was a historic day for Florida Memorial University's beach volleyball program because it was hosting its first-ever competition on its home sand, it wasn't a memorable one as the Lady Lions were edged out 3-2 by visiting Webber International University.

FMU, which remains the only historically Black college/university (HBCU) in the nation with a beach volleyball program, hosted a tri-duel Saturday with Webber International and St. Thomas University. Webber also defeated St. Thomas 3-2 in the first match of the day.

Prior to Saturday, the Lions played all of its previous matches either on the road or at neutral sites.

Construction began on the beach courts, which sit adjacent to FMU's Harry T. Moore Baseball Field, this past May and the team was able to practice on the courts earlier this spring. Florida Memorial now has 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 engineered beach-like sand that wicks and drains moisture and includes high-rise platforms for the game officials – which has made the Sun Conference consider hosting its beach volleyball conference tournament at FMU.

Florida Memorial (2-1, 2-1 The Sun Conference) sophomores and Preseason Pair to Watch Agustina Busque and Adriana Soto kept their individual undefeated record – earning a 22-20, 21-15 victory over Webber's No. 3 combo of Jessica Terry and LaRee Crockett.

Azmabeth Infante and Olivia Dodd earned a win at the No. 2 flight, making quick work of Julia Ferraro and Veeva Lee 21-14, 21-13.

Where the matched flipped over to the Warriors (5-0, 4-0) favor was in the No. 5 flight, where Jesennia Bonilla and Rafaela Nogueria battled WIU's Shymara Dykes and Brianna Valdez to a decisive third set before falling 24-26, 21-14, 11-15.

Florida Memorial will return the sand next weekend when it takes part in the FIU Beach Bash Tournament – at Florida International University – where it is scheduled to take on University of Tampa and Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Results
Webber International 3, Florida Memorial 2
#1. Emily Bowen/Montana Pelak (WIU) def. Sammyra Albarran/Alanis Santana (FMU) 21-18, 21-15
#2. Azmabeth Infante/Olivia Dodd (FMU) def. Julia Ferraro/Veeva Lee (WIU) 21-14, 21-13
#3. Adriana Soto/Agustina Busque (FMU) def. Jessica Terry/LaRee Crockett (WIU) 22-20, 21-15
#4. Penny Gwynn/Hannah Tannone (WIU) def. Biancaliz Cruz/Keisha Santana (FMU) 21-14, 21-16
#5. Shymara Dykes/Brianna Valdez (WIU) def. Jesennia Bonilla/Rafaela Nogueria (FMU) 26-24, 14-21, 15-11

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Players Mentioned

#25 Sammyra Albarran: B; 5' 8"; Senior

#4 Alanis Santana: D; 5' 5"; Senior

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

#23 Biancaliz Cruz: B; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#24 Azmabeth Infante: B; 6' 0"; Freshman

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

#22 Olivia Dodd: D; 5' 6"; Freshman

#30 Rafaela Nogueira: B; 5' 9"; Sophomore

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

Players Mentioned

#25 Sammyra Albarran
: 5' 8"; Senior
: B

#4 Alanis Santana
: 5' 5"; Senior
: D

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

#23 Biancaliz Cruz
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: B

#24 Azmabeth Infante
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: B

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

#22 Olivia Dodd
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: D

#30 Rafaela Nogueira
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: B

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

Florida Memorial University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned