Lady Sharks Volleyball Team Wins Program’s 11th National Title

For the past three years, Miami Dade College’s title aspirations have been thwarted by Florida SouthWestern State College in the national championship game.

But this year was different.

The Lady Sharks dominated the Buccaneers, defeating the three-time defending champion 3-0 in Clarksville, Tennessee on Nov. 22 to capture MDC’s 11th national volleyball championship—the program’s first since 2017.

“Winning the national title feels amazing,” said Lady Sharks Head Coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit. “It’s like they took 300 pounds off my shoulders. After losing three straight years and always being just one step away, finally achieving it is incredible. I feel very happy and very blessed.”

The victory capped a dominant season that saw MDC lose only two sets in the playoffs, restoring its legacy as one of the sport’s powerhouse programs. 

Miami Dade College opened the year with 10 straight wins and finished with a 29-22 record, including a 9–1 mark in conference play. Their only losses came in a five-set (3-2) battle against No. 5 Salt Lake Community College on Sept. 12 and a 3–1 home loss to then top-ranked FSW on Oct. 1.

But things were different in the national championship game. The Lady Sharks dominated from the start, shutting down one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, never allowing the Buccaneers to find its rhythm.

“We had played against [FSW]  three times before the national championship final, so we knew what they were doing,” said Lady Shark’s right-side hitter Veronika Petrova. “We also watched film on them before the game and everything was set. We were prepared. “

Freshman setter Eleonora Gicheva ran the show with 33 assists, 10 digs, four kills and an ace. Up front, sophomore outside hitter Luyeisy Marquez-Moreno had a team-high 13 kills, followed by right-side hitter Angelica Rodriguez’s 10 and an additional eight by outside hitter Azra Arslanoglu. 

On the defensive end, middle blockers Maria Fernanda De Lima Varela and Eduarda Fabricio formed a wall at the net, combining for five blocks and holding FSW to just .187 hitting. Libero Katianna Mejía Betancur delivered eight digs and two clutch aces during pivotal spots of the second-set.

One of the match’s defining moments came at the start of the third set when Marquez-Moreno torched FSW from the service line, scoring three straight points igniting a run that blew the match wide open. That impressive offensive outburst helped the Lady Sharks open the set with a 10–2 lead.

“I was in this flow and it just felt super good. Because, you know, having this lead in a championship is huge,” Marquez-Moreno said. “I just wanted to keep acing them.” 

 This season, the Lady Sharks were powered by several standouts. Marquez-Moreno emerged as the team’s dominant force, finishing with a team-high 453 points and 384 kills, making her the squad’s most consistent scoring threat. 

Right behind her was Rodriguez, whose explosive play earned her 330 points and 300 kills, cementing her role as one of the team’s most reliable attackers. 

De Lima Varela, a freshman, made an immediate impact in the middle, contributing 221 points and 149 kills and Gicheva led the team with 919 assists. 

Betancur, Marquez-Moreno, Fabricio, and Gicheva were selected to the Division I All-Florida College System Athletic Association First-Team. De Lima Varela and Rodriguez were selected to the Second-Team.

Marquez-Moreno was tabbed Player of The Year and Fabricio was voted the top freshman.

“This year we were a very powerful team,” Benoit said. “Luyeisy, Angelica Rodriguez, and Azra gave us strength on the pins. Our middles were great, our libero was an amazing passer and defender, and our setter, Eleonora  was the brain of the team. The players who came off the bench delivered as well. Everyone had a role and everyone stepped up.”

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