Box Score WINTER HAVEN — Polk State College Volleyball pushed No. 5 Miami Dade College on Saturday afternoon, becoming just the second team to take a Suncoast Conference set from the Sharks. However, the Eagles ultimately fell in four sets.

The Sharks (14-4, 6-0 Suncoast) surged to a 25-18 win over the Eagles (6-8, 2-4 Suncoast) in the opening set. 

With the second set tied 15-15, the Eagles compiled a 4-0 run to take a commanding 19-15 lead. Despite a late surge from the Sharks, a Carolina Guerreiro kill won the session for Polk 25-23 and evened the match 1-1.

The pivotal third set was a back-and-forth affair with a total of seven lead changes. The Eagles used a 7-3 run to take a 13-12 lead over the Sharks midway through the action and even held a 22-21 advantage late in the set. However, it was Miami Dade who gritted out the third set 25-23 to take a 2-1 lead in the contest, despite the Eagles hitting a match-best .297 in the set.

Errors doomed the Eagles in the fourth set, as Polk accumulated a total of 10 attacking miscues. A 4-0 Miami Dade run in the middle of the set proved to be the difference maker, as the Sharks grew their lead to 17-12, ultimately closing things out 25-18.

"Our girls competed all the way to the final point against a very good Miami Dade team," said Polk State Head Coach German Del Valle. "They played with a tremendous amount of heart and unconditional support for each other which has always been foundational to the culture of our program."

Guerreiro led Polk with a team-high 13 kills and had eight digs. Sophomore middle blocker Kaila Ru was right behind her with 12 kills to go with an impressive four blocks at the net. 

Freshman defensive specialist Irene Mostardine and sophomore libero Maria Luiza Barreis each had a team-best 13 digs. Freshman setter Madison O'Sullivan logged 24 assists and 12 digs to round out the top of the stat sheet for the Eagles.

Polk will be exclusively on the road next week. The Eagles will first head to Ft. Pierce for a matchup with Indian River State College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.