OMAR NEGRIN \ THE REPORTER
A month after winning a national volleyball championship with Miami Dade College, Massiel Matos was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association two-year Colleges Player of the Year Award.
“This award is very important,” Matos said.
The freshman outside hitter received the honor on Dec. 15 at the AVCA Convention All-American banquet. She also received All-American Honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I and AVCA.
Matos had 411 kills, averaged 4.72 kills per set (second in the nation), had 37 blocks and averaged 0.66 service aces per set (fifth in the nation) this past season.
“She’s one of the best players I’ve had, while also staying very humble,” Lady Sharks Head Coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit said.
Benoit discovered Matos a few years ago when she was playing for the Dominican Junior National Team. Before attending MDC, she spent four years on her country’s national team.
Her volleyball skills have garnered a lot of attention from other schools. According to Benoit, Matos has 15 scholarship offers.
Despite those offers, Matos said her goal will remain the same next year—to help the Lady Sharks win another national championship.
The Lady Sharks defeated Iowa Western Community College 3-0 in the championship game on Nov. 19 in Casper, Wyoming to win the 2016 National Volleyball Championship. They won their last 10 games to finish out the season.
Matos, who was named the National Championship Dorothy L. Brown Most Valuable Player, filled the stat sheet during the tournament, contributing 16.5 points, 15 kills and nine digs.
