WINTER HAVEN – Playing the No. 4 team in the country will give Polk State Volleyball the opportunity to make a statement, but for the program's sophomores, it will also be a day to reflect.

Saturday's contest against Miami Dade College will serve as Sophomore Day. Prior to the match, 10 sophomores will be recognized.

"The friendships I made and the family I made here is what I'll remember the most," said Irene Mostardini, a libero and co-captain from Italy. "I made my best friends for life. These are people I am never going to forget."

This year's sophomore class includes seven returnees and three newcomers who transferred from other schools. After spending four years as an assistant coach, it is also first-year Head Coach Dayanna Barbosa's first sophomore class.

"When people think about Polk State Volleyball, I want them to see a program that's more than volleyball," Barbosa said. "I want them to see a program that produces good students and good people. I want our players to be prepared for whatever comes at them throughout life. I hope people see us as the family that we are."
 

Becoming one

As is the case every season, Polk State has a roster that consists largely of international players. This year's sophomore class includes players from five different countries and one territory – the U.S., Italy, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the Czech Republic.

"When I came here, I was totally different – not only in my technique but with my mentality," said Crismeyli Rodriguez, an outside hitter from the Dominican Republic. "We are all from different places, so we have to adapt to each other. I feel like we are all on the same page."

"What makes this program special is the cultures we have," said Carleiny Morillo, a sophomore setter also from the Dominican Republic. "Every day, we learn something new from each other."

Over their two years with the program, Rodriguez and Morillo have watched their roles grow. Last season, Morillo averaged just 2.39 assists per set compared to 8.16 this season. Rodriguez's kills per set average has grown from 1.84 to 2.21.

"When I came here, I was so frustrated because it was a big change for me," Morillo said. "The (coaches) helped me get out of that and I'm so grateful to them."

After serving as two of the top contributors at Santa Fe College as freshmen, Keionna Mackey and Faith Marquis took their talents to Polk State for the 2023 season for a chance to win big.

"The thing that makes this program special is the drive to win and the hunger that everyone has," Mackey explained. "The friendships I've made here are unlike any other."

Mackey is averaging a team-best 3.87 kills per set and was recently named the FCSAA Player of the Week. Marquis has been one of the top servers for Polk State this season, averaging a team-leading 0.39 aces per set.

"I'm going to remember all the new cultures that have been brought to me, the new experiences, and the way people see things differently," Marquis said. "That's going to mean a lot to me."

Playing for great coaches

For the second-year players, they had the opportunity to play for two head coaches. The legendary German Del Valle served as head coach during their freshman seasons. As sophomores, Barbosa, a former standout player and assistant coach at Polk State, took over.

"Dayanna Barbosa is a person who is so mindful and bright," said Carolina Guerreiro Cruz, an outside hitter and native of Brazil. "You can see how she loves volleyball. She's an amazing person. She's taught me so many things."

Rodriguez, setter Madi O'Sullivan, and defensive specialist Ambar Lopez each said they wanted to quit playing volleyball after high school. Meeting Del Valle and Barbosa, however, rekindled their love for the sport.

"Coming here to Polk has been one of the best decisions I've ever made," Lopez said. "What makes Polk State special is the culture and the diversity we have here. We're from completely different parts of the world. We get to know each other on a deeper level. I made sisters that I'll have for life. It's been a fun ride."

"Going into my senior year of high school, I thought I was done," O'Sullivan added. "I came here on a visit and saw the culture and how much everyone cared about each other. I was able to find my love again."

In her first season as head coach, Barbosa has led Polk State to a winning season, top-15 national ranking, and a berth in the FCSAA Tournament.

"I've never had a coach that believes in me like Daya does," added Mostardini, a three-time FCSAA Defensive Player of the Week this season and an All-Suncoast Conference selection in 2022. "She fixed all my weaknesses and helped me believe in myself. She made me a different type of person and a player."

Karolina Zubkova, a native of the Czech Republic, is the lone NCAA Division I transfer. Zubkova spent last season at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro but has made her presence felt at Polk State by ranking second on the team by averaging a team-leading 0.86 blocks per set.

"My coaches are amazing – the best I ever had," she said. "I love the energy. They are giving to the team. I've loved working with them."

Barbosa has added a pair of assistants to her staff in her first season. Audrye Alejandro Rivera was a former standout libero at Elms College in Massachusetts and nearby Warner University in Lake Wales. Malixe Cardona played at Polk State in 2019 before going on to start at and earn her degree from Howard University.

"The culture I learned here was something I haven't seen anywhere else," Guerreiro Cruz said. "It's not just about volleyball. What I love about Polk is it's more than just about volleyball, it's about life. I thought I knew a lot about volleyball when I came here but I didn't. (Rivera) brings us so much energy and supports us in every way. (The coaches are) the perfect combo."

Overcoming adversity

While Polk State is in position to finish ranked nationally and to compete for a spot in the national NJCAA Tournament, things have not come easy for the sophomores during their time on campus. A few players pointed to an early-season tournament in Nevada in 2022 in which the Eagles finished with three losses in four matches and several injuries.

"This program always pushes you to be better and not give up," said sophomore middle blocker A'lanae Margaritha, a native of the Dominican Republic and the team leader in total blocks. "Even when you think you're giving 100% -- no – you can give 110%."

For Polk State, this season didn't get off to the greatest of starts. The Eagles dropped their first three matches but have since turned things around with wins in 11 of their last 15 matches. That includes victories over four nationally ranked teams. On Wednesday night, Polk State became the first team all season to push No. 1 Florida SouthWestern State College to five sets.

"Volleyball-wise, I've learned how to communicate and deal with my emotions," Mackey said. "Everyone is from different places. I've learned how to deal with adversity – whether that's on the volleyball court, in class, with my peers."

With a roster of international players who are often thousands of miles from their homes, getting the players to mesh as a team can be an annual challenge in itself. Even for players from the U.S., it can be hard to meld with teammates from different backgrounds and playing styles.

"When I came here, I was young, immature, and didn't know a lot," O'Sullivan noted. "Being with so many people from different areas around the world, you see how people live life differently than you do. I've learned so much from them, grown a lot as a person, and as a player, too."

Entering the final home match of their careers, every returning sophomore for Polk State is having a better statistical season than last year. Mackey, Mostardini, and O'Sullivan rank in the top 20 nationally in kills, digs, and assists per set, respectively.

"When I came here, I was not a complete player. I didn't know what approach to take with different players," Mostardini said. "As a libero, I was not communicating at all. I've grown technically, but I've learned how to communicate."

"When you come to Polk State College, you discover yourself," added Guerreiro Cruz, who ranks second on the team in kills per set. "It's a chance to grow up. I'm way more ready for the next step of my life. At Polk State College, you're going to feel alive."

Moving forward

Come 2 p.m. on Saturday, Polk State's sophomores will take the court at the Health Center for the final time. The life lessons they've learned on the same court, however, will last forever.

"This program is special because of how much each of us care and how we want to win," O'Sullivan said. "We each have something different we bring to the table. We all give 100%."

Over the last 12 years, Polk State has made the NJCAA Tournament seven times. Polk State has already clinched an appearance in the FCSAA Tournament, but Barbosa says the Eagles have the talent to return to the national tournament.

"This group wants this as much as I do," the head coach said. "They love the program. They work hard every practice."

While the Eagles' on-the-court accomplishments speak for themselves, they've also been recognized for their achievements in the classroom. For the 2022-23 Academic Year, Polk State Volleyball was named an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year with a collective grade-point average of 3.17.

"My advice to future Polk State players would to be enjoy your time here," Zubkova said. "Take your schoolwork seriously and give 100% effort."

"This program will always love and take care of you," Margaritha added. "You're always going to have a family here."

While many players go on to play at four-year schools, including NCAA Division I institutions, Polk State seems to always hold a special place in their hearts.

"We all come from different countries and cultures," Mostardini said. "We have to learn to adapt to each other, but the love and passion we have as a team is what brings us together. We all have the same mentality and the same goals."

Most former players stay in contact with their Polk State teammates and coaches. Some stay up to date on how the team performs during the season. Some have attended home and road matches this season.

"Leaving here doesn't mean you're no longer part of our family," Barbosa concluded. "I'm going to be here for them for the rest of their lives. I want them to know that this will always be their house and they can come back any time."