All Eyes Turn to the Sun-Lakes Conference Tournament

Leesburg, Fla. – It has been a year to remember for the Lake-Sumter State College volleyball team and the best maybe yet to come.

Last week, the Lakehawks secured their first winning season since 2003 and the most wins since 2011. In easily the best season under Head Coach Amanda Phelps, the program has turned around. Lake-Sumter went through the conference schedule with a final record of 8-2. The only two losses coming at the hands of No. 1 seeded Pasco-Hernando State College. LSSC will head into the Sun-Lakes Conference Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed.

Friday will mark the start of the conference tournament in which all six teams will be competing. No. 6 Florida Gateway will take on No. 3 St. Johns River with the winner facing off against Lake-Sumter on Saturday. The Lakehawks have defeated both teams throughout the regular season. LSSC took down Florida Gateway in four sets both times and swept St. Johns River in their two previous meetings.

A win on Saturday would put LSSC into the championship game and create a possible third installment of Lake-Sumter vs Pasco-Hernando. No. 1 Pasco-Hernando, who also received a first round bye, will take on the winner of No. 5 Gulf Coast State and No. 4 South Florida State.

The tournament will take place at Pasco-Hernando State College in New Port Richey. Lake-Sumter's match on Saturday is slated to begin at 6 pm. The championship contest on Sunday is scheduled for a 1 pm start time.

This season has been one for the history books on the Leesburg campus. Highlights include Emma Gray being selected as the Player of the Week, Amanda Berecz named Defender of the Week two times and Gabriela Hernandez earning Setter of the week an amazing four times. Berecz and teammate Talyn Allard both joined the 25 dig club while Hernandez set a school record with 62 assists in a single match. Hernandez is the only player in the state of Florida at any NJCAA level with 60+ assists.

"This team has worked incredibly hard this entire season," Phelps said. "They have been busting it since day one and I believe that will carry over into this weekend and help lead us to a trip to nationals."

More information will be available after the first game of the tournament on Friday. Please follow us on twitter @LakehawkSports for up to the minute information on game times and opponents.