Volleyball Team Remains Atop Poll, Crowned Southern Conference Champions

With four games remaining on their schedule, the Lady Sharks Volleyball team clinched the Southern Conference Championship after defeating Florida State College of Manatee (25-17, 25-12, 25,22)  on Oct. 13.

The Lady Sharks, who are 20-0, 7-0 in conference, have swept their last 13 opponents. They are ranked No. 1 in the country and are the only undefeated team in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“They’ve all been playing at a high level,” said Lady Sharks head volleyball coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit. “When you have players who are playing so well across the roster, you mix and match the rotations.”

Benoit credits the team’s performance to its cohesiveness.

Sophomore setter Tiziana Baumrukova was named Setter of The Week. She averaged 13.6 assists per game during the team’s most recent run.

In national rankings, the team is third in hitting percentage (.310), second in assists per set (13.12), tenth in service aces per set (1.95), fourth in digs per set (20.25), tenth in blocks per set (2.43) and first in points per set (18.1)

Freshman middle blocker Kimberlee Apolinario-Correa ranks second in the nation in hitting percentage (.493) and Baumrukova is second in the nation in assists per set with 11.15.

Through their undefeated run this season, Lady Sharks had an impressive win against fourth-ranked Polk State College (three times) and second-ranked Iowa Western Community College.

The Lady Sharks next game is Oct. 17 on the road against Indian River State College at 5:30 p.m. They close out their season versus Santa Fe College at a neutral site on Oct. 27.

From Nov. 2- 4, the team travels to Bradenton, Florida to compete in the Florida College System Activities Association State Tournament.