Lady Sharks Crowned FCSAA State Volleyball Champions
The Miami Dade College Lady Sharks volleyball team won their sixth consecutive state title Saturday after defeating Polk State College at the Florida College System Activities Association State Tournament in Fort Myers.
MDC, who is 16-3 on the season, defeated the Eagles in the championship game 25-15, 25-23 and 25-10.
The Lady Sharks were led by freshman outside hitter Romina Cornelio who had 17 digs and 14 points, outside hitter Janelly Ceopa who added 19.5 points and sophomore Carolina Takahashi who contributed 23 assists.
With the victory, the Lady Sharks, who are the fourth-ranked team in the country, qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament. It will take place Nov. 18-20 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
“[I] was very happy to be able to play in a state final again,” said Ceopa, a sophomore. “With so much emotion and energy, we gave our best. [It] felt nice to be on the court with all the people encouraging and celebrating each point.”
Ceopa, who scored 36.5 points and had 35 kills in the Lady Sharks’ two games, was selected the tournament’s most valuable player. She was one of three MDC players named to the All-Tournament team.
Sophomore Carolina Takahashi and Cornelio were the other two. Takahashi had 54 assists and Cornelio had 29.5 points and 27 digs during the tournament.
The Lady Sharks advanced to Saturday’s championship game by defeating Daytona State College 25-17, 25-21 and 25-21 in their opening-round match-up on Friday versus the Eagles who are the 19th-ranked team in the nation.
Ceopa led the Lady Sharks’ offensive attack with 17 points in the semi-final game. Takahashi, who was filling in for setter Luisa Melloni who fractured her left hand during a practice before the tournament, contributed 31 assists, Cornelio added 15.5 points and freshman defensive specialist Kiaraliz Perez had 23 digs.
During the tournament, the Lady Sharks missed out on the opportunity to play the top-ranked team in the nation Florida SouthWestern State College who defeated them twice this year. The Buccaneers failed to make the championship game because they were upset by Polk State College in their opening round match-up on Friday, three games to two, despite winning the first two sets.
“We played as a [team] and gave it our all regardless of the opponent and got that championship we longed for,” Perez said.
Before the tournament, Cornelio, who averaged four kills and 4.72 points per set this year, was named the FCSAA Player of The Year. She was one of three MDC players selected to the All-State First-Team. The other two Lady Sharks were Perez who averaged 5.75 digs per set this season and Melloni who averaged 9.26 assists per game.
Middle blocker Mariela Jimenez and Ceopa were selected to the All-State Second-Team. Ceopa was second on the Lady Sharks in points (3.6) and kills (3.32) per set. Jimenez averaged 2.7 points per set.
