David Badia | SportsMediaDB

Women's Volleyball 11/11/2021 6:07:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

“Ten Strong” Lions WVB To Face Ave Maria In TSC Tourney Semis Friday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (10-9, 8-6) vs. Ave Maria University Gyrenes (20-7, 11-3)
When: Friday, November 12, 2021
Where: St. Thomas, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
First Serve: 4 p.m.
Last Meeting: Oct. 9, 2021, Loss 0-3 (11-25, 20-25, 19-25)
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Adversity brings out the true character of a person. Some wilt at the difficulty of a given situation while others don't see stumbling blocks but instead steppingstones.

For a team and coaching staff with championship pedigree like Florida Memorial University's, going into the conference postseason tournament with a shorthanded roster isn't a pitfall, it's a rallying cry – and the Lions hope that it can once again prove that their "10 Strong" is more than enough when they face Ave Maria University in the semifinal round of The Sun Conference Championship Tournament Friday at 4 p.m.

Friday's semifinals will take place at St. Thomas University's Fernandez Family Center, as STU won the regular season conference title (best regular season conference record). The other semifinal – between St. Thomas and College of Coastal Georgia – will be played at 2 p.m.

The championship game will be held Saturday at St. Thomas at 2 p.m.

The No. 3 seed Lions (10-9, 8-6 The Sun Conference) earned their spot in the semis by knocking out 6-seed Keiser University this past Tuesday. Playing a game on its home floor for the final time this season, Florida Memorial dominated the Seahawks – who were voted as the preseason No. 1 team in the conference and was ranked in the national preseason poll.

Adriana Soto turned in one of the best statistical performances of her career, registering a game-high 20 kills and 16 digs. Biancaliz Cruz, who was announced as an All-Sun Conference First Team selection this past Wednesday, added 18 kills and 7 digs.

The Lions' other All-TSC First Team selections, Keisha Santana Roldan and Kimberlie Correa, finished with 25 digs and 12 kills respectively.

Florida Memorial's performance in Tuesday's opening was impressive since it was missing three players at three different positions (middle blocker, outside hitter, and right side) that all measure 6-feet tall or taller.

FMU head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton had to get creative with her lineups, and her players stepped up and not only accepted their altered roles but thrived in them – especially Maria Rodriguez, an outside hitter that had to move to middle blocker and responded by recorded a game-high 5 blocks.

Still, taking on Ave Maria University Friday will be a different test for the Lions.

The Gyrenes enter as a rested team after being awarded a bye into the semifinals as one of the top-two seeds in the conference standings. Ave Maria (20-7, 11-3) dealt FMU a sweep loss back in October, a match in which the Lions recorded their lowest single-set point total this season.

AMU's roster features four All-TSC First Team selections (the most of any team this year) and the conference's Setter of the Year in sophomore Lily Witkoski.

Crockett-Moulton said that her team another two days of what she called "good practices" and feels like her team is showing the same kind of focus it had when it made its meteoric run through the Sun Conference Championship Tournament in 2019 when it captured the conference title.

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

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Players Mentioned

#3 Adriana Soto: OH/RS; 5' 9"; Junior

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

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

#14 Maria Rodriguez: OH/DS; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#2 Keisha Santana Roldan: LIB/DS; 5' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#3 Adriana Soto
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OH/RS

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

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

#14 Maria Rodriguez
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: OH/DS

#2 Keisha Santana Roldan
: 5' 0"; Senior
: LIB/DS

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned