BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 12, 2020) – It's almost time to make your way to the beach to watch the reigning 2019 Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Invitational champion Webber International University beach volleyball team open up its new 2020 season.

During the Warriors' first season under Head Coach Jessica Gehrke-Hauptmann in 2019, Webber finished the season 17-12 overall, 7-1 in The Sun Conference and was 10-1 at home. The Warriors also won the inaugural Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Invitational and boasted the TSC Pair of the Year in Mekenzie Breuklander and Madelyn Glouner. At the 2019 AVCA Small College Beach Championship, the Warriors finished in fourth place after winning the national championship during back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018.

"We are so excited for this season," said Gehrke-Hauptmann. "I was really proud of the team for last year's performance with winning the first Sun Conference Invitational and earning the pair of the year award. Even though we fell short at nationals last year, that has given this team motivation to work harder towards our championship goals."

The new 2020 beach volleyball season will begin on Saturday, February 15, with a tournament at NCAA Division-II Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Warriors will battle PBA at 9 a.m. followed by a match with another NCAA D-II school, Saint Leo University, at 11 a.m.

Webber's first two home matches of the season will come next Saturday, February 22, during the Webber Classic. The Warriors will host Bryant & Stratton College at 9 a.m. on the Webber Campus Beach Volleyball Courts followed by a 12 p.m. exhibition match against St. Johns River State College.

The Warriors will also kick off Sun Conference play at home against St. Thomas University at 9 a.m. and Florida Memorial University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.

Webber's final home matches of 2020 will come during the Webber Tri-Match when the Warriors host Warner University at 11 a.m. and Stevenson University at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.

All roads then point to the 2020 Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Championship on Saturday, April 4, followed by the AVCA Small College Beach Championship set for Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18.

"This year we have a really strong schedule ahead of us which is exciting for the team to experience different levels of competition," said Gehrke-Hauptmann. "This will help us to continue raising the bar for our level of play both physically and mentally and also help prepare us for conference and nationals."

Leaders the Warriors will look to this year on the sand include Emily Bowen, Hannah Tannone, Mekenzie Breuklander, Salla Rautiainen, Julia Ferraro, Jessica Terry, Molly Fusarelli and Kobi Allston.

"This year we have an experienced group of upperclassman and returners leading our program," added Hehrke-Hauptmann. "The team has been working hard and we are hungry to compete and win at the highest level."

Join us in the sand in 2020 as the Warriors return to the beach looking to defend their conference championship crown.