The Hillsborough Community College Lady Hawks Volleyball team who currently hold a 7-5 record with a 1-0 mark in conference, are looking to gain steam after a difficult preseason schedule. “We’ve played a massively hard preseason schedule, we’ve played the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 15th ranked teams in the nation to find out where we are.” Says head Coach Gary Larkin. “My feeling is that getting out there and playing our best early on, it’s going to pay off during conference season. I am proud of us in those matches even though we weren’t able to win all those matches, it will get us to our goal of being able to win those matches.”

  This team has the potential to be one of Coach Larkin’s best and even better than last year’s team that made it to the final match at states, with six sophomores including Outside Hitter Jenna Kirkwood, Libero Yaidimar Santiago, and middle blockers Zoe Sostre and Francesca Indoni leading the way.

  Coach Larkin is also happy with the work his players will be involved in off the court this fall as well, with the “Dig Pink” benefit for breast cancer in October, fundraiser for Autism, Wounded Warrior Project-all of these causes are approached with the same excitement as the game.

  The Lady Hawks will be in the thick of their schedule on October 4th when they take on Polk State College at 7:00 p.m. in Winter Haven.