By
Miami-Dade College Women's Volleyball advances to Nationals
This past weekend in Melbourne, Florida, the Miami-Dade College women's volleyball team competed for a state championship. A spot that Coach Benoit is very familiar with having been in the state championship game the last six years. The Lady Sharks finished the regular season with an overall record of 19-7. That record propelled them to earn the second seed in the state heading into the tournament.
Before the start of the tournament there was some individual hardware to be given out. Romina Cornelio would earn herself the FCSAA and NJCAA region eight player of the year award. Cornelio, Ana Tevdoradze, and Alexandra Koleva would earn 1st team all-conference meanwhile Kiaraliz Perez and Jazmin Vergara would earn 2nd team all-conference.
Their first matchup of the tournament was against an old rival in Polk State in which they would split the regular season series each defeating each other. The Lady Sharks entered the match looking comfortable and breezed by no problem with a 3-0 sweep. Perez and Vergara would have themselves a match with Perez earning 16 digs meanwhile Vergara earned nine kills. The Lady Sharks would advance to the state championship match.
In the state championship the Lady Sharks would face the number one seed Florida Southwestern State College. It was a rough outing for the Lady Sharks having to fight back in what seemed the entire match. They would fall short for the state title getting swept 3-0. It was another impressive performance from Perez with 17 digs and player of the year Cornelio earning 12 kills.
Although they would fall short, that was not the end of the road or season for the Lady Sharks. As runner-up, you have a chance to play for a spot in the national tournament. Miami-Dade would face Spartanburg Methodist for a spot in the tournament.
The Lady Sharks would punch adversity right back as they completed a 3-0 sweep to earn a spot in the national tournament. The will to never give up and the unity in the the team is what got them to extend their season at least one more match.
Written by: Daniel Torres
Post a Comment