Miami Dade College hasn’t fielded a volleyball team with a losing record since 1989 (Kendall Campus). That was before the College merged its athletic teams.
Now, one season after come within one win of capturing a National Championship, MDC’s volleyball team is in danger of ending their season with a losing mark.
With two games left in the season, the Lady Sharks are 13-15 and 4-3 in the Southern Conference. Before this season, the Lady Sharks had a 24-0 record in the Southern Conference the past three years.
“We need to continue to work hard and finish strong,” said Lady Sharks Volleyball Coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit.
The Sharks have struggled to find consistency this season. They lost six starters from last year’s team and have only three sophomores. They have also struggled with chemistry. That lack of inexperience has led to the team never really taking off. Their biggest winning streak was four games in mid-October.
“It all starts in practice,” said defensive specialist Adara Anselmo. “We as a team need to have a good work ethic. It takes hard work and it’s not going to be handed to us.”
Anselmo has been one of the few bright spots on the team. She leads the team in digs with 427, and is currently third in the nation in digs per set (7.63).
Team captain Kelsey Taylor, a setter, has been one of the other bright spots. Taylor leads the team with assists and is ranked 24th in the nation, averaging 9.10 assists per set.
She believes the team can still salvage the season and reach .500.
“There needs to be a sense of urgency [and] we also need to be tougher mentally to handle those tough positions we are put in,” Taylor said.
The Lady Sharks end their season away from home on Oct. 31 versus Santa Fe College.
