These MDC Volleyball Players Were Offered Transfer Scholarships

Months after falling one victory short of a National Title, nine Miami Dade College volleyball players still won after they received transfer scholarships. 

Romina Cornelio will be attending Florida Atlantic University, Anllelivis Fernandez will be transferring to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Mariela Jimenez will be going to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alexandra Koleva accepted an offer from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Luisa Melloni will be enrolling at the University of Missouri, Sila Ozyurek accepted an offer to the University of Missouri-Kansas City,  Kiaraliz Perez is transferring to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Briyith Prado will continue her academic journey at Talladega College and Jazmin Vergara will attend the Youngstown State University. 

Seven of the nine scholarship offers were to Division I schools.

“Miami Dade [College] made me grow as a person,” said Perez, who was born in Puerto Rico and credited the staff and her teammates with helping her adjust to Miami. “I worked more and more everyday, which ultimately led me to accomplish one of my dreams—to be at a NCAA Division I school.’ 

Despite losing in the National Championship game on Nov. 19  against Florida SouthWestern State College (3-1) in West Plains, Missouri, the Lady Sharks had an impressive season. They were 24-9 and had two winning streaks of at least eight games.

Cornelio, an outside hitter, was the team’s best player. She was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America team and was selected as the Florida College System Activities Association Player of The Year for the second season in a row. 

Cornelio led the Lady Sharks with 419 points and 359 kills and she added 258 digs. 

Other standouts included Perez, a defensive setter who led the team with 416 digs despite suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury that forced her to miss most of October and Koleva, a setter, who led the team with 8.49 assists per set. 

Fernandez, an opposite hitter, contributed 2.6 kills per set and 413 total attacks. 

“I would tell the incoming athletes to enjoy the experience,” Fernandez said. “Not to get stuck on the bad things and enjoy life because one day this is going to be their last year and time will not go back.” 

Name: Romina Cornelio

Position: Outside Hitter

Transfer School: Florida Atlantic University

 

 

Name: Anllelivis Fernandez

Position: Opposite Hitter

Transfer School: Southern Methodist University 

 

 

Name: Mariela Jimenez

Position: Middle Blocker

Transfer School: Northwestern Oklahoma State University

 

 

Name: Alexandra Koleva

Position: Setter

Transfer School: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 

 

 

Name: Luisa Melloni

Position: Setter

Transfer School: University of Missouri

 

 

Name: Sila Ozyurek

Position: Middle Blocker

Transfer School: University of Missouri-Kansas City

 

 

Name: Kiaraliz Perez

Position: Defensive Setter

Transfer School: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

 

 

Name: Briyith Prado

Position: Defensive Setter

Transfer School: Talladega College

 

 

Name: Jazmin Vergara

Position: Outside Hitter/Right-Side Hitter

Transfer School: Youngstown State University