Box Score GAINESVILLE – In its first true road test of the season, Polk State Volleyball passed with flying colors. The Eagles topped Santa Fe College 3-0 on Thursday night for their second straight victory.
With the win, Polk State (6-5, 2-1 Suncoast Conference) got back over .500 overall and in Suncoast Conference play. The Eagles dominated the straight-set victory, holding Santa Fe to 19 points or fewer in each of the three sets.
"It was encouraging to see the way we came out and handled business tonight," Head Coach
German Del Valle said. "I was very happy with the way we split the offense tonight. With a lot of younger players adapting to new positions, things are really starting to come together. I'm excited to see what we can do as a team over the final half of this season."
As was the case in an emotional five-set win over No. 10 Hillsborough Community College on Tuesday night,
Carolina Guerreiro and
Crismeyli Rodrigues powered the Polk State offense. Guerreiro paced the Eagles with 10 kills while Rodrigues added nine in the victory.
Two nights after recording the clinching kill to beat Hillsborough,
Kaila Ru tallied seven kills and two blocks for Polk State while
Andreina Aybar added two blocks of her own.
Maria Luiza Barreis led the team with 13 digs.
The Eagles posted a .333 attack percentage and five service aces in the win over the Saints. For the second match in a row, Madison O'Sullivan led Polk State in assists, tallying 32 in Thursday's win to go with a pair of aces. O'Sullivan recorded a career-high 50 assists two nights prior.
"Madison has grown up before our eyes these last two matches," Del Valle added. "Her decision-making has been outstanding; she's been a huge reason for our recent success."
Polk State will look to equal its longest winning streak of the season when it returns home to face Eastern Florida State College on Saturday. The contest is scheduled for 3 p.m.