Lady Sharks Remain Undefeated, Crowned Southern Conference Champions
OMAR NEGRIN / THE REPORTER
The Lady Sharks volleyball team was crowned Southern Conference champions after easily defeating Indian River State College 3-1 on Oct. 17.
Outside hitter Sun Wenting was named Player of the Week for her play during the Southern Conference championship held at Daytona State College. She averaged 4.5 kills and 4.2 digs per set (11 total) in four games.
Miami Dade College remains undefeated this year. They are 24-0 including six wins in Southern Conference play as they attempt to win back-to-back national championships.
“They are working hard and that is the reward they are getting,” said head volleyball coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit.
The team’s perfect record has allowed them to remain the top ranked team in nation all season, according to the National Junior College Athletic Association rankings. They have done so with efficient and consistent team play.
The Lady Sharks are second in the nation in kills per set (13.57), assists per set (12.51) and points per set (18). They are also fourth in the country in digs per set (19.81) and seventh in blocks per set (2.82)
“We are good but we can do better,” said outside hitter Massiel Matos, who was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year last year.
The Lady Sharks have been working on improving their blocking and communication. They know that repeating as national champions will be a difficult task so they are concentrating on the small details.
“We’ve talked about this for a long time,” said sophomore Thais De Castro Andrade. “We have to be the best so we have to practice like the best and play like the best.”
Matos leads the team in points (322.5), kills (252) and service aces (45). Andrade leads the Lady Sharks in digs (401) and freshman setter Tiziana Baumrukova is first on the team in assists with 723.
Other key contributors have been outside hitters Sun Wenting who has 227 kills and 184 digs this year and Rafaella Bonifacio who has 256 digs and 224 kills.
“The results don’t matter later on,” Benoit said. “It is one of the most talented teams that I’ve had.”
The Lady Sharks next game is Nov. 3 in Bradenton, Florida at the State Tournament.
