A perfect start (12-0 record including a 5-0 mark in Southern Conference play) by the Miami Dade College volleyball team has the Lady Sharks ranked No. 6 in the nation by the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The unblemished mark includes wins against previously or current top 10 teams such as College of Central Florida and San Jacinto College.
The Sharks started the season by defeating Eastern Florida State College (25-13, 25-18, 25-21).
The team was led by outside hitter Kathryn Hogan who contributed nine kills, setter Carelis Rojas who had 17 assists, and outside hitter Silvia Galeano who had nine digs.
After the victory against Eastern Florida State College the Lady Sharks played in the College of Central Florida Volleyball Tournament where they defeated the College of Central Florida (25-22, 25-19, 28-26) and Missouri State University- West Plains (25-17, 25-17, 25-16).
Rojas led the team with 41 assists during the two games; Galeano added 23 kills and setter Kelsey Taylor contributed 37 assists.
“We have to keep working,” said Head Coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit. “We need to work harder, and we need to perform better. It is too early in the season to stop now.”
The Lady Sharks then defeated Palm Beach State College (25-14, 25-14, 25-20) on September 16 and San Jacinto College (22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20,17-15) on September 20.
At the Miami Dade College Tournament that was from September 19 through September 20, the Lady Sharks added four more wins to their record. They beat Florida State College
(25-14, 25-12, 20-25, 25-7); College of Central Florida ( 25-22, 25-22, 25, 15); Daytona State College (25-21, 25-19, 25-18) and Polk State College (19-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-18).
The team kept the winning streak going, defeating Indian River State College (25-19, 25-17, 25-23) on September 23; Palm Beach State College ( 25-16, 26-24, 25-19) on September 25 and Broward College (25-13, 25-12, 25-18) on September 30.
Despite the quick start, the Lady Sharks said they can’t get complacent.
“The team has to keep moving forward and never put our heads down and stick to the game plan that coach has set for us,” said freshman opposite hitter, Thalia Morales.
