BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 28, 2019) – The back-to-back defending Small College Beach National Champion Webber International University women's beach volleyball team opened up the home portion of its 2019 season on Wednesday, February 27, with two more Sun Conference matches as the Warriors defeated Southeastern University 3-2 before falling to Warner University by the same score of 3-2 on the Webber Campus Beach Volleyball Courts.

It was also the home debut for Webber's new head coach Jessica Gehrke-Hauptmann as the results on Wednesday moved the Warriors' record to 4-4 overall on the season and 3-1 in Sun Conference play.

"It was exciting playing in front of our home crowd, and I'm really proud of how our team battled through the adversity," said Gehrke-Hauptmann. "We are working hard and preparing for Eckerd next week."

Match 1 (Webber 3, Southeastern 2):
 

• Mekenzie Breuklander and Madelyn Glouner defeated Keniah Rivera and Taylor Gregory 21-8, 21-18 in the No. 2 spot.
• Jessica Terry and Salla Rautiainen defeated Hannah Kaszubowski and Kirsten Sutherland 21-16, 2-6 in the No. 3 spot.
• Kobi Allston and Luiza Oliveira continued their strong play and chemistry by beating Elise Moralobo and Jordyn Stringer 21-6, 21-12 in the five hole.

 
Match 2 (Webber 2, Warner 3):
 

• Playing in the No. 1 position for the first time this season, Mekenzie Breuklander and Madelyn Glouner defeated Alex Gonzalez and Ashley Kube 21-17, 21-19.
• Kobi Allston and Luiza Oliveira won again by taking down Bailee Mack and Aurora Alderman in a three-set comeback, 10-21, 21-15, 15-11, playing up a spot in the No. 4 position.
• Playing without their No. 1 duo for the first time this season, the Warriors came up just short at moving to 4-0 in The Sun Conference as each of the other three matches versus Warner went three sets as well with Jessica Terry and Salla Rautiainen falling 18-21, 21-16, 15-12 in the No. 2 spot; Julia Ferraro and Molly Fusarelli falling 21-18, 14-21, 15-13 in the No. 3 spot; and Maricarmen Jaimes and RayGene Garner falling 13-21, 21-7, 15-8 in the No. 5 spot.

 
Next Up:  Webber will travel to St. Petersburg, Florida, to compete in the Eckerd College Battle on the Bay tournament on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9.