SHARKS RETURN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP
The Miami Dade Sharks returned to the top of the NJCAA Division I volleyball world on Saturday night in Clarksville, Tennessee, sweeping rival Florida SouthWestern State College 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 to capture the 2025 NJCAA National Championship at the Dunn Center. The title marks the Sharks' first national crown since their dynasty run earlier in the decade and completes a dominant postseason that saw MDC drop just two sets the entire tournament.
From the opening whistle, Miami Dade carried a championship-level presence. The Sharks hit .301 as a team and controlled the match's tempo behind the efficient hands of setter Eleonora Gicheva, who delivered 33 assists while adding 10 digs, 4 kills, and an ace. Her ability to manage the offense kept FSW off balance and opened the door for MDC's frontline to shine.
Tournament standout Luyeisy Marquez-Moreno once again anchored the Shark attack, posting a match-high 13 kills on .333 hitting. The Florida Atlantic commit was unstoppable in transition, delivering key scoring runs in every set and swinging with total command late in tight moments. Angelica Rodriguez added 10 kills, repeatedly finding seams in the Bucs' block, while Azra Arslanoglu chipped in 8 kills, including several momentum-shifting swings that helped MDC break sets open.
Middle blocker Maria Fernanda de Lima Varela was a force at the net, finishing with 4 kills and 3 blocks. Eduarda Fabricio contributed 4 kills and two more block assists as Miami Dade's front line held FSW to just .187 hitting across the match. Libero Katianna Mejía Betancur anchored the backcourt with 8 digs and provided two timely service aces during MDC's second-set surge.
The Sharks never allowed Florida SouthWestern, one of the nation's top offenses to settle into rhythm. MDC erased early deficits in both the first and second sets, responding with steady side-out volleyball and timely runs built off aggressive serving and disciplined blocking. In the third, Miami Dade exploded out to a 10–2 lead behind a run of aces and from Marquez-Moreno forcing FSW into repeated timeouts as the Sharks seized full control.
Florida SouthWestern's Letizia Okonofua (12 kills) and Sara Gamboa (11 kills) tried to lift the Bucs, but Miami Dade's balanced scoring, poise, and physicality at the net ultimately proved too much.
As the final kill from Gicheva fell to the court, the Sharks rushed together at center floor, celebrating the program's long-awaited return to the top. A season defined by depth, chemistry, and relentless consistency ended exactly the way Miami Dade envisioned: trophy in hand, rivals defeated, and the Sharks back on the mountaintop as the 2025 NJCAA Division I National Champions.
The Sharks finish the season 29-2, adding another banner to one of the most storied volleyball programs in Junior College history.