Box Score WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – No. 14 Polk State Volleyball pushed the reigning national champions to the brink Wednesday night inside the Health Center. In front of an electric "Pink Out" crowd of staff, students, community members, and fellow student-athletes, the Eagles fell just short to No. 1 Florida SouthWestern State College in five sets.
 
The Eagles (11-7, 7-4 Citrus) became the first team to force the Buccaneers (21-0, 10-0 Citrus) to play a fifth set this season.
 
"I am incredibly proud of our team's effort tonight," said Polk State Head Coach Dayanna Barbosa. "They have nothing to hang their head about. They competed and showed they are one of the best teams in the country. We fought from beginning to end as a family and fed off the amazing crowd energy."
 
Polk State played clean volleyball right out the gate vs. FSW, committing only three attack errors in 32 attempts in the first set, while the Buccaneers had eight miscues. A 10-4 Polk run midway through the set earned the Eagles a commanding 19-12 lead, eventually winning the set 25-18. Sophomore outside hitter Crismeyli Rodriguez turned in five kills in the opening session.
 
FSW retaliated with utter domination in the second set, hitting .367 as a team while Polk State hit -.036. The Buccaneers quickly evened the match 1-1 with a 25-13 win.
 
The third set featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, as the Buccaneers and the Eagles exchanged blows. With the set tied 17-17, a pair of Polk errors along with kills by four different FSW attackers resulted in a 25-22 win for the Buccaneers.
 
Trailing 2-1, the Eagles did not crumble under the pressure, responding with grit and determination in a highly competitive fourth set. Sophomore Karolina Zubkova was a menace at the net during the session, with three total blocks. Zubkova finished the night with a career-high seven blocks.
 
Rodriguez continued her steady attack from the outside, depositing five more kills to help the Eagles keep pace with the Buccaneers. Tied 22-22, it was Rodriguez with two crucial kills down the stretch, including the set-clinching strike that earned Polk State the nod 25-23 to force the fifth set.
 
The final session was another back-and-forth affair, with nine ties and seven lead changes. The Eagles looked to have the upper hand when three kills in a row by Rodriguez put Polk State on top 13-11. However, three kills by three different players aided FSW in ending the set on a 4-0 run to end the match, 15-13.
 
Rodriguez led Polk State in kills with 17, while Keionna Mackey had 13. Sophomore setter Madi O'Sullivan totaled 39 assists. Sophomore libero Irene Mostardini finished with 22 digs, while freshman middle Loes Peijnenbeurg was right behind Zubkova with six total blocks.
 
Polk looks to respond in its final home match of the season this Saturday against No. 4 Miami Dade College for the Eagles' Sophomore Day. Match time is set for 2 p.m.