J.T. Wilcox

Women's Beach Volleyball 3/18/2022 1:34:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Florida Memorial Beach Volleyball Facing Webber International & Warner In Tri-Duel Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-9, 0-5) at Warner University Royals (1-6, 0-2)
FMU Lions (0-9, 0-5) at No. 3 Webber International University Warriors (6-3, 5-0)
When: Saturday. March 19, 2022
Where: Webber International, Babson Park, Fla. | WIU Beach Courts
First Serve: vs. Warner, 3 p.m. | vs. Webber, 5 p.m.
Last Meeting: vs. Warner, March 24, 2021, Win 4-1 | vs. Webber, March 27, 2021, Win 3-1

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – If Florida Memorial University is to turn around its 2022 season, it must start this weekend when it travels to Babson Park, Florida to participate in a tri-duel Saturday afternoon at Webber International University's Beach Volleyball Courts.

The Lions will take on Warner University and the host No. 3 Warriors Saturday, taking on Warner at 3 p.m. and WIU at 5 p.m.

FMU's "road to a repeat" – following its winning the inaugural Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament Championship – has been a tough one to traverse. The Lions (0-9, 0-5 SUN) were picked as the conference's preseason's No. 1 team but has struggled to live up to the billing as a roster with five new pairs hasn't found its continuity on the sand.

It hasn't helped Florida Memorial's record that it played its past four games against NCAA programs – losing to Florida International University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and University of North Florida.

Currently sitting in 10th place in the Sun Conference standings and the only winless team in the conference, FMU needs to put together a strong performance this weekend to avoid falling into what could become an insurmountable hole.

In facing Warner and Webber, the Lions will be taking on the two teams it defeated en route to its conference title this past season.

The Royals (1-6, 0-2) have struggled a bit this season as well, entering the weekend on a three-match losing streak. However, while WU dropped its past three matches, two of those matches – including one against Webber – were 2-3 and could've easily swung in its favor.

Webber International (6-3, 5-0) was ranked No. 3 in the latest national American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and run roughshod over the Sun Conference this season.

It would be good for the Lions' morale and confidence to at least capture wins at the any of the flights – something they haven't done since February 26th against William Carey University (Miss.).

The duo of Olivia Dodd and Rafaela Nogueira continue to play as FMU's No. 1 flight pair and should be considered tone-setters for the Lions. FMU head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton has moved Biancaliz Cruz and Caroline Moreira to the No. 2 flight over the past few matches but they haven't been able to find the same success they had at the No. 4 flight earlier this season.

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

#21 Olivia Dodd: DS/S; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#10 Rafaela Nogueira: RS/OH; 5' 9"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

#23 Biancaliz Cruz
: Freshman

#21 Olivia Dodd
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: DS/S

#10 Rafaela Nogueira
: 5' 9"; Junior
: RS/OH

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

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned