Lakehawks Take Down No. 17 KCKCC

New Port Richey, Fla. – Over the weekend, the Lake-Sumter State College volleyball team competed in four matches at the Pasco-Hernando Invitational, going 1-3 during the event.

Nationally ranked Pasco-Hernando was first on the schedule for the Lakehawks on Friday. Although both teams reside in the Sun-Lakes Conference, the contest was a nonconference matchup between the two teams. PHSC finished seventh at Nationals in 2017 and is a favorite to finish toward the top of the newly formed conference in 2018. The Bobcats defeated the Lakehawks in three sets (25-14, 25-22, 25-24). LSSC gave them all they could handle in the final two sets, but did not come out on top.

The second match of the day knotted LSSC against well-traveled No. 17 Kansas City Kansas Community College. Going into the contest, the Blue Devils were 7-2 and off to a great start. Lake-Sumter came out ready to play winning three consecutive sets to take the match (25-10, 25-23, 26-24). It was a total team effort on the side of the Lakehawks. Eight different LSSC players scored points while Star Lakin and Gabriela Hernandez combined for 33 assists on the court.

Lake-Sumter was first on the floor Saturday, taking on DIV. I affiliated, Indian River State College. It was a back and forth battle between the two teams with all four sets finishing within five points or less. Both teams took a set to begin play with the Pioneers winning set one, 25-22, followed by a Lakehawks victory, 25-21. Indian River was able to snag set three after extra points, 27-25. They took that momentum into the fourth set for the 25-20 win to secure the match in their favor.

St. John's River was the final matchup for the Lakehawks at the event. Another Sun-Lakes Conference opponent in a nonconference contest. SJRSC, currently only the third team in the state with at least 10 wins, was able to sweep LSSC in three sets (25-14, 25-17, 26-24).

Emma Gray and Talyn Allard were both named to the All-Tournament Team following an excellent weekend on the court. 

"The overall excitement of the team and the direction we are headed in is extremely encouraging," said assistant coach, Nate Camnitz. "The way we were able to put different lineups on the court and have them compete with the high level of competition at this event was awesome to see."

Lake-Sumter (3-5) will host St. John's River to open conference play Wednesday. The game is slated to begin at 6 pm.