BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 23, 2020) – The Webber International University beach volleyball team hosted its first home regular-season match of the 2020 season on Saturday, February 22, welcoming four other teams to the Webber Campus Beach Volleyball Courts for the Webber Beach Classic. In the end, the Warriors did not drop a single set and swept Bryant & Stratton College 5-0 to earn a win in their home opener before also sweeping St. Johns River State College 5-0 in an exhibition matchup.

COACH'S CORNER: Webber's Head Beach Volleyball Coach Jessica Gehrke-Hauptmann said, "I am really proud of the team for battling against some new programs to the sport of beach volleyball. It's awesome to see the sport growing so rapidly not only within the NCAA, but within the NAIA and JUCO levels as well. Our Webber Classic tournament really represented almost all the levels of athletics within the sport and I cannot wait to continue watching it grow in the coming years. This week our team will be working hard towards another big competition weekend down at Florida International University in Miami where we will face some tough teams. We are looking forward to this opportunity to compete against some top programs and bringing home some wins."
 
Lineup during the Webber Beach Classic:

• No. 1: Salla Rautiainen and Laura Embry
• No. 2: Luiza Oliveira and Julia Ferraro
• No. 3: Emily Bowen and Mekenzie Breuklander
• No. 4: Hannah Tannone and Kobi Allston
• No. 5: Brianda Valdez and Svetlana Varkentina

 
Match 1 (Webber 5, Bryant & Stratton 0):

• The Warriors limited their opponents to single digits in five out of 10 sets, including doing so in both sets in the No. 4 spot by Hannah Tannone and Kobi Allston.
• 1: (WIU) Salla Rautiainen and Laura Embry earned their first win of the season, defeating (BSC) Gaby Lopez and Amanda Vega 21-12, 21-7.
• 2: (WIU) Luiza Oliveira and Julia Ferraro improved to 3-0 on the season, defeating (BSC) Zoey Mohring and Ashley Wiemann 21-15, 21-1.
• 3: (WIU) Emily Bowen and Mekenzie Breuklander improved to 2-1, defeating (BSC) Mackenzie Mainka and Valeria Rodriguez 21-13, 21-9.
• 4: (WIU) Hannah Tannone and Kobi Allston also improved to 3-0 on the year, defeating. (BSC) Angeue Rivera 21-7, 21-4.
• 5: (WIU) Brianda Valdez and Svetlana Varkentina teamed up for the first time this season and defeated (BSC) Alexis Nagy and Caitlynn Kirsh 21-13, 21-13.

 
Match 2 (Webber 5, St. Johns River State College 0 - *Exhibition Match):

• 1: (WIU) Salla Rautiainen and Laura Embry def. (SJRSC) Louisa Marunde 21-19, 21-17.
• 2: (WIU) Luiza Oliveira and Julia Ferraro def. (SJRSC) Rickie Sheets and Jordyn Pruski 21-11, 21-15.
• 3: (WIU) Emily Bowen and Mekenzie Breuklander def. (SJRSC) Eden Edgell and Brooklyn Mcleod 21-10, 21-12.
• 4: (WIU) Hannah Tannone and Kobi Allston def. (SJRSC) Selena Kriston and Kendal Hoges 21-6, 21-11.
• 5: (WIU) Brianda Valdez and Svetlana Varkentina def. (SJRSC) Jordan Taylor and Emma Olander 21-9, 21-8.

 
Next Up: Next up for Webber beach volleyball will be the Florida International University Beach Bash in Miami, Florida. On Friday, February 28, Webber will battle FIU at 7:30 a.m. and the University of Tampa at 10:30 a.m. before coming back the next day on Saturday, February 29, to play San Diego City College at 9 a.m. followed by Florida Memorial University at 3 p.m.