The Lady Sharks Aim To Win A State Title
Miami Dade College’s volleyball team fell short at the State Tournament in 2013, however, they are confident that the upcoming 2014-2015 season will be their year.
The team was eliminated from states last year after losing the first two games during the tournament. Head Coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit said the team “did not perform” well but has high hopes this year.
“We always have high expectations to win States and Nationals,” Benoit said. “We want to go all the way. This is a team with a lot of winning tradition, so we do not want to shoot for anything else than that. We are hungrier and have worked harder than ever.”
The Lady Sharks open the 2014 season on September 9 against Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida at 6 p.m.; they play their first home game on September 19 at the MDC Tournament, time and opponent have yet to be determined.
A few key players to watch this season on the court are middle blockers, Erini Chatziefstratiadou, (6-foot-1) and Merrisa Murphy, (6-foot-2).
Last season Murphy and Chatziefstratiadou aided the team to collectively averaged 2.17 blocks per set.
Chatziefstratiadou, who is from Thessaloniki, Greece is battling an injury this year. She is attending therapy for a lower back injury and hopes to recover in time for the season opener.
Entering her second year as a Lady Shark, Murphy hopes to improve her blocking and hitting statistics going into the new season.
“I want to be way better than I already am and I’d like to think that I am pretty great,” Murphy said.“[I want to be there] cheering my team, being supportive of my teammates and encouraging everyone, it’s going to be an amazing season.”
Coach Benoit also praised sophomore outside hitter Silvia Galeano (5-foot-10) from Nechi, Colombia, who averaged three kills per set in 26 matches.
Galeano hopes to be the top-ranked outside hitter in Florida this year.
“I want to be first ranked player in the States and I am working [hard] for it,” Galeano said.
To be ranked first in the State, Galeano will need to improve her passing and defense to help the team win a title during the 2014-2015 season.
Benoit said it will take that type of improvement from his entire team to do better than last year.
“More girls are fighting for their position this year and we have more options,” Benoit said. “They are more experienced this year and are giving 110% during practice.”
