These MDC Volleyball Players Were Offered Transfer Scholarships
Months after falling one victory short of a National Title, nine Miami Dade College volleyball players still won after they received transfer scholarships.
Romina Cornelio will be attending Florida Atlantic University, Anllelivis Fernandez will be transferring to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Mariela Jimenez will be going to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alexandra Koleva accepted an offer from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Luisa Melloni will be enrolling at the University of Missouri, Sila Ozyurek accepted an offer to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kiaraliz Perez is transferring to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Briyith Prado will continue her academic journey at Talladega College and Jazmin Vergara will attend the Youngstown State University.
Seven of the nine scholarship offers were to Division I schools.
“Miami Dade [College] made me grow as a person,” said Perez, who was born in Puerto Rico and credited the staff and her teammates with helping her adjust to Miami. “I worked more and more everyday, which ultimately led me to accomplish one of my dreams—to be at a NCAA Division I school.’
Despite losing in the National Championship game on Nov. 19 against Florida SouthWestern State College (3-1) in West Plains, Missouri, the Lady Sharks had an impressive season. They were 24-9 and had two winning streaks of at least eight games.
Cornelio, an outside hitter, was the team’s best player. She was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America team and was selected as the Florida College System Activities Association Player of The Year for the second season in a row.
Cornelio led the Lady Sharks with 419 points and 359 kills and she added 258 digs.
Other standouts included Perez, a defensive setter who led the team with 416 digs despite suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury that forced her to miss most of October and Koleva, a setter, who led the team with 8.49 assists per set.
Fernandez, an opposite hitter, contributed 2.6 kills per set and 413 total attacks.
“I would tell the incoming athletes to enjoy the experience,” Fernandez said. “Not to get stuck on the bad things and enjoy life because one day this is going to be their last year and time will not go back.”
Name: Romina Cornelio
Position: Outside Hitter
Transfer School: Florida Atlantic University
Name: Anllelivis Fernandez
Position: Opposite Hitter
Transfer School: Southern Methodist University
Name: Mariela Jimenez
Position: Middle Blocker
Transfer School: Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Name: Alexandra Koleva
Position: Setter
Transfer School: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Name: Luisa Melloni
Position: Setter
Transfer School: University of Missouri
Name: Sila Ozyurek
Position: Middle Blocker
Transfer School: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Name: Kiaraliz Perez
Position: Defensive Setter
Transfer School: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Name: Briyith Prado
Position: Defensive Setter
Transfer School: Talladega College
Name: Jazmin Vergara
Position: Outside Hitter/Right-Side Hitter
Transfer School: Youngstown State University
