LEXINGTON, Ky.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers matched their success on the court with their success in the classroom this year, following up their Suncoast Conference Championship and 5th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament with their third straight USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award as one of the top academic achieving programs in the country.
In it's 30th year, the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award recognizes Volleyball teams across all levels for outstanding achievement in the classroom. To be eligible for the award, teams must maintain a minimum of a 3.30 GPA as a team throughout the year. In 2021-2022, the Bucs were one of just 25 NJCAA programs across the country to earn the award and one of just three in the state of Florida.
"Academic achievement does not happen by accident," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "I'm so proud of the hundreds of coaching staffs that make excellence in the classroom a priority."
The Bucs are in elite company of teams to achieve both top level success on and off the court in 2021-2022. FSW finished their season 25-5 overall, winning their second straight Suncoast Conference Championship with a perfect 16-0 record while advancing to their second straight NJCAA National Tournament where they finished a program best 5th. All eight FSW sophomores signed to play at the next level with five players inking NCAA Division I scholarships.
"I am very proud of the effort that our players put into their class work this season" FSW Head Coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen said. "It is difficult being a student-athlete in today's environment with distractions all over the place. For our players to be able to have the determination to succeed academically, including 10 of them being international students, with English as their second language, is certainly commendable."
The Bucs begin preparations for their 2022 season on August 1st with their first regular season action coming on August 26th and 27th when they host the Battle at the Beach Tournament at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.