CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The awards continued to roll in for Florida SouthWestern freshman Roberta Purashaj on Wednesday as the Bucs setter was named both the NJCAA and AVCA National Player of the Week, the first FSW player in program history to net both awards in the same week.
Purashaj led the Bucs to a perfect 4-0 record at the Battle at the Beach Tournament in Suncoast Arena last weekend, earning Most Valuable Player honors while helping FSW to three straight wins over Top 15 ranked teams. She averaged 11.69 assists per set on the weekend, setting up Buccaneer hitters to hit .285 as a group in four matches. Friday she dialed up the best single game performance of any FSW setter in program history, dishing out a program record 60 assists while also scooping up 17 digs in a 3-1 win over Trinity Valley. She followed that up with 21 assists and 7 digs in a three set sweep over #14 Utah State-Eastern. On Saturday she was back at it again against a pair of Top 10 ranked opponents, distributing 29 assists in a 3-0 win over #9 Central Wyoming and leading the charge with 42 assists in a 3-0 FSW romp over the two-time defending National Champion and #1 ranked Iowa Western Reivers.
Purashaj is the first FSW player in their four year program history to earn AVCA Two-Year Player of the Week honors and is the second player, joining fellow setter Fiona Baker, to notch NJCAA National Player of the Week accolades.
Purashaj and the Bucs will be back in action next Tuesday when they kick off Suncoast Conference play with a date in Winter Haven against the 10th ranked Polk State Eagles.