LEESBURG, Fla. (Volleyball) – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) volleyball has announced their 2023 schedule. The Lakehawks have a 28-match schedule, with 10 matches set to be hosted at The Hawk's Nest.
The Lakehawks finished the 2022 season with a 10-15 overall record and 3-10 in Sun-Lakes Conference play. They finished tied for eighth in conference ranking with one All-Sun-Lakes Conference Team North Division selection.
Returning sophomore Yarelis Lopez Osorio earned a spot on the 2022 All-Sun-Lakes Conference North Division Second Team. For the season, she recorded 234 kills at 2.96 kills per set with 843 total attacks.
The Sun-Lakes Conference is made up of 10 teams within the state of Florida and is separated by North and South Divisions. Lake-Sumter is a member of the North Division.
The North Division is comprised of five teams: Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), Gulf Coast State College, Pensacola State College, St. Johns River State College (SJRSC), and Lake-Sumter. The South Division is comprised of Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, South Florida State College, St. Petersburg College, and State College of Florida.
In the regular season, the teams from the North Division will play each opponent twice, one home and one away, as well as each South Division opponent once for a total of 13 conference matches. The results from teh regular season will determine post-season seeding.
The Lakehawks will open their season on the road with a tri-match against non-conference opponents, Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and Indian River State College (IRSC), on Saturday, Aug. 19. Their 2023 home opener will follow on Tuesday, Aug. 22 against Santa Fe College at 6:00 p.m.
Sun-Lakes Conference play will begin the last week of August, about two weeks into the season. Lake-Sumter will travel to Palatka, Fla. to play SJRSC.
After the 13-match conference slate, six teams will to advance to the 2023 Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Division II Volleyball Championship. The six spots will be the top-two teams from both divisions recieving automatic bids and then two additional at-large bids will be named.
This year, the championship will be hosted by Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Fla. from Nov. 3-4.
Head coach Amanda Phelps enters her eighth season as the LSSC volleyball head coach, "I am excited for the experience and knowledge that our returners bring to the team this year to supplement the strong incoming freshman class.
This team has had one of the best preseasons in my career at Lake-Sumter. They came back ready to compete," said Coach Phelps.
The Lakehawks will recognize 10 sophomores at their last home match of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 24 against Trinity College at 6:00 p.m. Sophomores Saniaa Dickey, Alanis Figueroa Rivera, Katelyn Johnson, Cameron Bendel, Kaylee Hunt, Jayden Ponsford, Cecilia Calton, Emma Zelkowitz, and Lopez Osorio will each be celebrated for their time spent at Lake-Sumter.
Up next for the Lakehawks
Lakehawk volleyball will travel to Fort Pierce, Fla. for a tri-match against HCC and IRSC on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
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