MDC’S LADY SHARKS COME CLOSE TO WINNING NATIONAL TITLE
MIAMI, November 19, 2007 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Lady Sharks players gave their all at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Volleyball Championship tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa. After almost a week of competition, the State Champions came home on Sunday, Nov. 18, with the national runners-up trophy and a lot of pride in their outstanding season.
The Lady Sharks did not experience a loss all season until the final game for the championship title. After defeating three opponents during the week of competition, the team lost the championship match on Saturday, Nov.17, as the Western Nebraska Cougars took home the title after defeating the Lady Sharks 30-27, 30-24, 21-30, 30-22.
The Sharks came into the final as the prohibitive favorite, as the team swept through its semi-final match against Frank Phillips College of Texas, while the Cougars had to go to five games to beat Salt Lake Community College in that semi-final match.
The loss to the Cougars of Western Nebraska Community College prevented the MDC squad from winning a ninth national championship crown, but it added to the incredible record of 10 second-place finishes at the national championships since 1977. Of the 34 NJCAA championships held since 1974, the Miami Dade College team has participated in an amazing 18 final games.
“Our Lady Sharks are true champions in every sense of the word,” said MDC Athletic Director James Cox. “I think that everyone would agree that the volleyball dynasty at Miami Dade College is alive and well. We are very proud of what these young women, on and off the court.”
Complete tournament information and results can be found at the official tournament website, www.njcaavb.com
Media-only contacts: Juan Mendieta, MDC communications director, (305) 237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu or Beverly Counts Rodrigues, MDC media relations director, (305) 237-3949, brodrigu@mdc.edu.