CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Off to a 9-0 start to the 2022 season, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers remained #1 in the NJCAA National Rankings on Monday, holding down the top spot in the poll for the third consecutive week.
The Bucs doubled their win total on the season this week, going a perfect 5-0 including wins over three Top 15 ranked opponents. They opened Suncoast Conference play with a 3-0 road win at #10 Polk State on Tuesday before heading across the country to Las Vegas where they went 4-0 in the Coyote Classic hosted by the College of Southern Nevada. Their first match of the tournament came against the hosts in which the Bucs dispatched 3-0. Later on Thursday they fought off a hot start from Arizona Western for a 3-0 victory over a talented Matador squad. Friday the Bucs locked up with #15 Seward County and found themselves in a dog fight in the fourth set before coming from behind 19-11 and 24-20 down for a 31-29 victory to take the match 3-1. They closed the trip against another ranked foe, this time DII #11 Glendale who they took care of in sweeping fashion to move to 9-0 on the year.
FSW was one of just four teams in the Top 20 to hold their spot from week two to week three. The Bucs again garnered the top spot in the rankings and were followed by Indian Hills, Snow, Salt Lake, and Western Nebraska. Miami Dade and Hillsborough moved up one spot each to #6 and #10 respectively while Daytona State checked in at #15.
FSW has a busy week in front of them with three matches, all at home. They jump back into Suncoast Conference play on Tuesday against Santa Fe at 6:00 PM at Suncoast Credit Union Arena before hosting #15 Daytona State Thursday at 6:00 PM and Indian River Saturday at 2:00 PM.