FMU Readies To Open 2021 Season With Three Games At STU Invitational

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions vs. Missouri Baptist University Spartans (0-0)
FMU Lions vs. Midland University Warriors (Neb.) (0-0)
FMU Lions vs. Olivet Nazarene University Tigers (Ill.) (0-0)
When: Thursday-Friday, August 19-20
Where: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
First Serve: Thursday, 4 p.m. | Friday 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: vs. Missouri Baptist | Aug. 22, 2019, Loss 3-0
vs. Midland University | First Meeting
vs. Olivet Nazarene | First Meeting
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – After the threat of inclement weather wiped out its originally-scheduled season-opening games, Florida Memorial University's volleyball team will officially open the 2021 season beginning Thursday afternoon when it takes part in the St. Thomas University Volleyball Invitational.

FMU will make the 3-minute drive over to neighborhood rival St. Thomas University, where it will play three games in two days in STU's Fernandez Family Center, taking on Missouri Baptist University Thursday at 4 p.m. then returning Friday to play two games – a 10 a.m. showdown with Midland University (Neb.) and a 3 p.m. match against Olivet Nazarene University.

The STU Volleyball Invitational will host seven teams – the three out-of-town programs, Florida National University, the Lady Lions, the host Bobcats, and fellow Sun Conference constituent Southeastern University, and span three days (Aug. 19-21).

For FMU head volleyball coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton and her team, Thursday represents their first opportunity to return to the indoor court since having their 2020 season canceled after seven games for health and safety reasons.

Losing the 2020 season meant that the Lions couldn't adequately defend their 2019 Sun Conference Tournament crown – the first in FMU Athletics history. While FMU sat out, the rest of the conference continued with its 2020 season and ultimately crowned a new champion – without the Lions in the mix.

All Crockett-Moulton and her squad did a few months later was win the inaugural Sun Conference beach volleyball conference tournament championship in March 2021.

Florida Memorial's beach volleyball team was composed almost entirely of players from the indoor team and the championship that they earned made Crockett-Moulton the first coach to lead two different sports to conference championships – all in her first two years of her tenure at FMU.

Looking at this season, even though the Lions' 2021 roster has a good mix of experience and youth – with 10 of the 17 players listed being members of either the 2019 indoor championship team or the 2021 beach championship team and seven of those 10 having rings from both title teams – Florida Memorial was voted to finish No. 5 in the preseason Sun Conference coach's poll.

The STU Invitational tournament schedule makers did the Lady Lions zero favors with their three-game slate, pitting FMU up against three teams that all made the NAIA national tournament this past season.

Thursday's opponent – Missouri Baptist University – won the 2020 NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The Spartans also returned a large chunk of their 2020 championship team, including four 2020 NAIA All-Americans.

Things won't be much easier Friday morning, when the Lions take on Midland University – the team that Missouri Baptist defeated in the 2020 NAIA national championship game. While the Warriors finished the season 16-10, they went on a big run through the NAIA tournament before falling in the title game. Midland, however, graduated many of its impact players from this past season and will have a remixed lineup this year.

FMU will get a bit of a "reprieve" with its late Friday opponent, Olivet Nazarene, which also made the national tourney but was knocked out in the opening round. Still, the Tigers went 20-2 in 2020 and brought back many of its key players from that squad.

Florida Memorial, which may be without its full complement of players during the tournament, will still plenty of talent on the court.

6-foot-2 Brazilian junior middle blocker Kimberlie Correa, who came to FMU as a junior college transfer from Miami Dade College and is the sister of 6-foot-1 middle blocker Daphinie Correa – a senior who played on the 2019 indoor team, was tabbed as a Player To Watch by the Sun Conference during the preseason.

Crockett-Moulton will also be able to go to 2019 Sun Conference Freshman of the Year Biancaliz Cruz, now a junior, and junior setter Agustina Busque, who flourished during the 2021 beach season will be looking to carry the momentum into the 2021 indoor season.

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

#1 Daphinie Correa: MB; 6' 1"; Senior

#11 Agustina Busque: S; 5' 5"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

#1 Daphinie Correa
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MB

#11 Agustina Busque
: 5' 5"; Junior
: S

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

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned