Miami Dade College volleyball finishes second in nation; STU set for football playoffs
If only Florida SouthWestern State College – also known as FSW – didn’t exist.
Miami Dade College Sharks women’s volleyball team finished second in the nation among junior colleges on Saturday night in Clarksville, Tennessee.
FSW beat the Sharks 3-0. It marks the fourth straight season that FSW ended MDC’s season, including the past three years in the national championship match.
Sharks coach Kiko Benoit, who was recently inducted into the National Junior College Athletics Association Hall of Fame, has helped MDC win six national titles – two as the head coach and four as an assistant.
The Sharks finished this season with a 25-3 record – with all three losses to FSW. But MDC also handed FSW (26-1) its only loss of the season.
Two MDC players – 5-foot-5 defensive specialist Mia Martinez and 6-2 outside hitter Katielle Alonzo – were named to the all-tournament team at nationals. Martinez, who is from Puerto Rico, was very consistent; and Alonzo, from the Dominican Republic, showed off her powerful arm.
“It is sweet and sour,” Benoit said when asked to sum up MDC’s season. “We did not play our best in the championship match, and we were expecting to win.
“But not many programs ever get to finish second in the nation.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ The fifth-seeded St. Thomas University football team (9-1) will start its 2024 NAIA national playoffs by hosting No. 10 Georgetown College (8-2) on Saturday at noon.
STU’s only loss was 31-27 to top-ranked and reigning national champion Keiser (9-0).
There are 16 teams left in the NAIA playoffs. STU and Georgetown, which is based in Kentucky, both had first-round byes.
STU coach Bill Rychel said his team has never played Georgetown, which, historically, has been a winning program.
“The bye week was our reward for a good regular season,” Rychel said. “Now, getting to play at home while Georgetown has to travel is a huge benefit.”
▪ Nova Southeastern University’s women’s soccer team lost 2-1 to West Florida on Sunday in the second of the NCAA Division II national championships in Pensacola. NSU finished with an 8-6-4 record.
▪ Florida Memorial’s football team earned its second straight winning season at 6-3-1. But the Lions didn’t make the national playoffs, losing to fellow Sun Conference teams STU 45-17 and Keiser 51-16.
▪ Barry University’s women’s volleyball team wrapped up a 23-4 regular season, and the Bucs await word on Monday night for the NCAA Division II playoffs.
On Monday, Barry’s 6-1 outside hitter Diana Akopova was named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year. She also won the award in 2022.
In addition, Barry’s 6-3 right-side hitter Veronika Eremeeva was named the league’s Freshman of the Year. And Barry’s 6-3 outside hitter Varvara Osychenko was second-team all-league.
All three players are from Russia.
▪ Miami Dade College’s men’s soccer team – playing its first season in 36 years – finished with a No. 8 national ranking and a 13-5-2 record. They went 3-0 against teams ranked No. 1 in the nation.
▪ MDC’s women’s soccer team – playing its first season ever – finished with a 10-5-0 record and a No. 18 national ranking. The Sharks beat three top-11 teams.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 8:00 AM.