TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern sophomore Belle Sardja battled through another tough field of candidates to claim yet another superlative award for her 2022-2023 efforts as the Bucs ace has been named the FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year as announced by the State Office Friday. 

The 2023 NJCAA and NFCA National Pitcher of the Year, Sardja led FSW to their third straight NJCAA National Championship in 2023, starting all five games in the circle at the World Series in route to the Title for the Bucs. She finished the season a sparkling 25-2, dialing up eight complete game shutouts, including two in the World Series. Sardja was nearly untouchable in the circle for the Bucs this season, posting a microscopic 0.88 ERA which ranked 3rd in the country, while allowing opponents to hit just .194 against her. Along with her National Pitcher of the Year honors, Sardja was also named the Most Outstanding Pitcher at the 2023 World Series after earning Most Valuable Player accolades at the tournament as a freshman last season. 

Sardja was chosen the 2023 FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year over the collection of State Players of the Year in the FCSAA this season that included eight different female programs that won NJCAA National Championships. 

Sardja is the first FSW student-athlete in school history to earn Athlete of the Year honors. 

She will continue her academic and athletic career next year at the University of South Florida.