BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 20, 2021) – The Webber International University women's beach volleyball team started its 2021 season by defeating Ave Maria University 4-1 at home on Saturday on the Webber Campus Beach Volleyball Courts.

COACH'S CORNER: Webber's Head Beach Volleyball Coach Jessica Gehrke-Hauptmann said, "I am really proud of the team's performance today. It was our first game of the season and it was fun to see our new partnerships finally compete. We are looking forward to practice this week and preparing for next week's games."

WEBBER LINEUP:

• No. 1: Emily Bowen and Montana-Rae Pelak
• No. 2: Julia Ferraro and Veeva Lee
• No. 3: Jessica Terry and LaRee Crockett
• No. 4: Hannah Tannone and Penny Gwynn
• No. 5: Shymara Dykes and Brianda Valdez

RESULTS:

• The most dominating match of the day for Webber was a 21-8, 21-8 win for Tannone and Gwynn at the No. 4 spot.
• Also winning in two sets was Terry and Crockett 21-15, 21-13 in the No. 3 spot, and Dykes and Valdez 21-17, 21-13 in the No. 5 position.
• In the No. 2 spot, Ferraro and Lee dropped the first set but came back to win 17-21, 21-15, 15-8.
• In the No. 1 spot, Bowen and Pelak fell in three sets, 21-19, 22-24, 15-13.

TEAM RECORDS: Webber improves to 1-0 both overall and in The Sun Conference while Ave Maria moved to 1-1 in both categories after also beating Warner University 4-1 during the final match of the day on the Webber Campus Beach Volleyball Courts.

NEXT UP: In one week for Webber will be a tri-match at home against Southeastern University (9:30 a.m.) and St. Andrews University (1 p.m.) on Saturday, February 27.