FT. MYERS, Fla. – No. 17 Polk State Volleyball looked nothing but confident on the postseason stage Friday morning in the quarterfinal round of the FCSAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament. Polk State cruised past No. 15 Eastern Florida State College in straight sets to advance to the semifinal round later today.
 
The Eagles (13-9) hit .170 percent higher than the Titans (14-8) and doubled up Eastern Florida at the net on blocks 12-6.
 
Polk trailed early in the opening set 7-3 before the Eagles rattled off a 7-1 run to take a 10-8 lead. The two teams continued to exchange blows to the point where the set was tied 15-15. From there, Polk went on a 6-2 run to take control of the session 21-17.
 
Freshman outside hitter Martina Gonzato had two crucial kills down the stretch to bring Polk within two points of closing out the set. The Eagles finished it out 25-22 thanks to a bad set and attack error by the Titans.
 
The Eagles found themselves in another deficit in the second set, trailing 14-7 after seven combined kills by Dominae Jordan and Emma Kiser. However, Polk did not break, taking advantage of some Titans' miscues to battle back into the contest.
 
Five attack or service errors brought Polk to within striking distance, trailing 18-14. From there, the Eagles strung together a 7-0 run to take the lead 21-18. Sophomore setter Carleiny Morillo had three service aces during the run. A kill by Carolina Guerreiro Cruz clinched the set for the Eagles 25-21.
 
Polk State hosted a block party in the third set, recording five of its 12 stuffed shots in the session. Freshman middle Loes Peijnenburg played a part in seven of the 12 blocks for the Eagles, recording her second straight match with seven blocks.
 
A kill by sophomore outside hitter Keionna Mackey put the Eagles ahead 6-5 in the third set and Polk never relinquished the lead from there. Mackey's kill later in the set to grow the Eagles' advantage to 23-13 was the 500th of her collegiate career.
 
It was the freshman Gonzato who clinched the match for Polk State, striking a ball to the left side to win the set 25-15. Gonzato finished hitting an astounding .667 on the match, totaling nine kills with no errors.
 
Mackey tied for the team lead in kills with A'lanae Margaritha at seven. Margaritha also dominated the net with five total blocks.
 
"We came out with amazing energy," said Margaritha. "We know people underestimate us, but we are here to prove that we can compete and that we are a family."
 
Team captains Madi O'Sullivan and Irene Mostardini paced Polk in digs with 15 and 14, respectively. Karolina Zubkova also had five blocks for Polk to go along with her five kills.
 
Polk State faces reigning national champion and host school Florida SouthWestern State College in the semifinal round later Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.