Two Miami Dade College athletic teams are in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Top-20 rankings, according to the organization’s latest polls.
The volleyball team, who started the season No. 2 in the nation, moved up to the top spot after defeating the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, 3-0, and No. 17 Daytona State, 3-1, on Jan. 22 in Fort Myers. They are 2-0 this season.
MDC baseball is ranked No. 15. But the team is 2-3 and will most likely fall in the rankings when they are updated because it has lost three of its last four games.
Head volleyball coach Origenes “Kiko” Benoit isn’t too preoccupied with the early-season rankings because he knows they are partly based on the team’s third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament last season.
“The ranking is how you play each match and when you make it to States or Nationals you get an easier day one,” Benoit said. “This is a different season and [we’re] staying safe to continue playing without injuries and getting infected [COVID-19].”
Head baseball coach Adrian Morales also isn’t putting too much stock in the latest polls.
“The rankings are a testament to the coaches before me: Charlie Green, Steve Hertz and Danny Price,” Morales said. “We are ranked because of the tradition and longevity of success that Miami Dade College baseball has had over the decades.”
Both coaches are focused on keeping their team’s COVID-free—the baseball team reported no positive cases during the 60-day window they were allowed to practice this fall; the volleyball had five cases—improving their chemistry and making it deep into the postseason when the games count the most.
“We have to go [out] there and play hard, give everything that we got,” Benoit said. “If we get the results we want, that’s great. If not, we go out the next day and work hard.”
The Lady Sharks’ next game is against Hillsborough Community College at 3 p.m. on Jan. 29 in Daytona Beach. The baseball team’s next game is a noon doubleheader at home Jan. 30 versus the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Spectators are not being allowed at MDC home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
