Box Score WINTER HAVEN — Polk State Volleyball had perhaps its best day of the season at the service line on Friday. The Eagles used a myriad of aces, many timely, to sweep the University of South Carolina Sumter, 3-0.
Polk State finished with a season-high four service aces per set and 12 total in the victory. Daryangelis Arbelo Torres led the Eagles with four aces while adding five kills on a stellar .500 attack percentage.
Polk State (4-4) took the first set, 25-15. The Eagles seized control with a 6-1 run highlighted by a pair of aces from
Ella Lopez. Arbelo Torres ended the set with three straight aces.
In the second set, it was an early kill by
Deyja Tshibangu that highlighted a 4-0 run to put Polk State ahead for good. An
Isabella Pedrosa kill ultimately ended the set as the Eagles emerged victorious, 25-13.
After trailing 13-6, Polk State capped the sweep with its biggest comeback in any set with a 25-17 victory in the third.
Sophia Torres came up clutch late with three consecutive aces before Lopez ended it with a kill. The Eagles closed the set on a 19-4 run.
Lopez led Polk State with 10 kills and 10 digs in the victory. Tshibangu and
Erianys Soto added eight and five kills, respectively. Soto did not commit a single attack error.
Isabella Ramos paced the Eagles with 13 digs. Pedrosa added eight digs in the sweep.
The victory ends a three-match losing streak for Polk State. The Eagles will hit the road for the first time in Citrus Conference play on Wednesday when they visit Santa Fe College in a match that could have pivotal FCSAA Tournament implications.
"I'm proud of our team," Polk State Head Coach Jessica Beal said. "They played very well together. They showed unity and I hope we can bring this momentum into our next match against Santa Fe."
