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J.T. Wilcox

Women's Beach Volleyball J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

FMU Honors Seniors, Drops Season Finale To Division-I Opponent FIU

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Call it a bit of "championship hangover" as Florida Memorial University's beach volleyball team – not even a full week removed from becoming the first and only historically Black college or university to not only have a beach volleyball program but to capture a conference championship – dropped its regular season finale 0-5 to visiting NCAA Division-I opponent No. 14 (NCAA) Florida International University Thursday morning at the FMU Beach Courts.
 
Prior to the beginning of the match against the Panthers, the Lady Lions coaching staff honored its four graduating seniors – presenting Keisha Santana, Sammyra Albarran, Jesennia Bonilla, and Alanis Santana each with a commemorative framed photo collage, balloons, and other gifts.
 
FMU head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton also delivered a heartfelt message of thanks to the seniors prior to the start of the match.
 
Thursday's match, which began roughly 30 minutes behind its slated start time of 10:30 a.m., has no bearing on Florida Memorial's postseason prospects. The Lions, who have won two conference titles under Crockett-Moulton and her coaching staff, have already qualified for the AVCA Small Colleges National Beach Volleyball Tournament – which will be held in Tavares, Florida on April 16-17.
 
What made Florida International's visit to Miami Gardens Thursday so special was the fact it pitted mother against daughter. The Panthers are coached by Rita Buck-Crockett, the mother of FMU's Crockett-Moulton. The elder Crockett represent Black history herself, being the first African American woman to win a beach volleyball world championship and is two-time Olympian with a Silver medal from 1984 Olympic games.
 
Crockett-Moulton coached alongside her mother as an assistant for a little more than six years at FIU before she became a head coach for the first time at Florida Memorial.
 
There seemed to be a bit of an April Fool's moment Thursday too. Florida Memorial was scheduled to also take on neighborhood rival St. Thomas University at 8 a.m. Thursday, but a scheduling mix-up with the game officials left the teams to play a "honor system" exhibition, where the teams essentially officiated themselves.
 
Once the officials arrived, the Lions took on FIU then St. Thomas faced off against FIU.
 
The Lions will now get to enjoy a bit of a respite before it begins preparations for the AVCA National Tourney on April 16.
 
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Players Mentioned

Sammyra Albarran

#25 Sammyra Albarran

B
5' 8"
Senior
Alanis Santana

#4 Alanis Santana

D
5' 5"
Senior
Jesennia Bonilla

#11 Jesennia Bonilla

B
5' 9"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Sammyra Albarran

#25 Sammyra Albarran

5' 8"
Senior
B
Alanis Santana

#4 Alanis Santana

5' 5"
Senior
D
Jesennia Bonilla

#11 Jesennia Bonilla

5' 9"
Senior
B