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Women's Beach Volleyball 3/11/2022 1:38:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Lions Beach Volleyball Hungry For Victory, Faces Ave Maria Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-6, 0-4) at Ave Maria University Gyrenes (3-1, 3-1)
When: Saturday, March 12, 2022
Where: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | STU Beach Courts
First Serve: 11 a.m.
Last Meeting: March 27, 2021, Win 3-2

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University will be looking to right its proverbial ship this weekend when it takes on conference foe Ave Maria University in a single match Saturday morning on St. Thomas University's Beach Volleyball Courts.

First serve for the weekend match is set for 11 a.m.

The Lions had a rough February, dropping all four of its matches in the first month of the season.

While FMU (0-6, 0-4 The Sun Conference) returned a solid handful of players from the 2021 Sun Conference championship team, it didn't return any pairs from this past season. Meaning Florida Memorial head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton has brand new pairs at all five flights this season and each has spent the early part of the season building continuity while trying to compete against a tough Sun Conference slate.

One pair, however, has been able to find a bit of instant chemistry – in junior (returner) Biancaliz Cruz and senior (newcomer) Caroline Moreira. The duo is undefeated this season, playing its first two matches at the No. 4 flight and second two at the No. 3 flight, and has won all its matches in two sets.

Taking on Ave Maria Saturday will be no easy task for the Lions, though. The Gyrenes (3-1, 3-1) made easy work of University of Mobile (Ala.) and William Carey University (Miss.) two weeks ago – winning the matches 5-0 and 4-1 respectively – two teams that most recently knocked off Florida Memorial. Also, AMU returned three complete pairs and another two individual players from this past season – making them a more than formidable opponent when also battling against the sweltering South Florida heat.

Turning the corner and picking up what would not only be the first win of the season but also a confidence-building win for the Lions would mean that it got a gallant performance from one – or both – of its No. 4 or No. 5 flight pairs – Erica Robinson/Annyah McKnight and Arianna Ortiz/Daja Newton.

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

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Players Mentioned

#23 Biancaliz Cruz: Freshman

#2 Daja Newton: DS; 5' 6"; Freshman

#4 Erica Robinson: DS; 5' 7"; Freshman

#3 Arianna Ortiz: DS; 5' 1"; Freshman

#5 Caroline Moreira: OH; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#23 Biancaliz Cruz
: Freshman

#2 Daja Newton
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: DS

#4 Erica Robinson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: DS

#3 Arianna Ortiz
: 5' 1"; Freshman
: DS

#5 Caroline Moreira
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned