FORT MYERS, Fla.- Starting Friday, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Volleyball team will be playing for keeps as they kick off their inaugural season at the CF Volleyball Invitational Friday and Saturday in Ocala. 

As expected, a young FSW squad, made up of 13 freshmen and just two sophomores, had their ups and downs in the preseason.  The Bucs four preseason matches were a microcosm of that as they split with FCSAA powerhouses Polk State and Central Florida in two set scrimmages while dropping a two setter to Santa Fe, and defeating Ave Maria 3-0 in their final exhibition match on Monday.  FSW got contributions from a wide array of players in the preseason, highlighted by nine different players registering multiple kills in their home christening against Ave Maria Monday. 

The Bucs will face a stiff slate right off the bat, opening with DII #16 Pasco-Hernando at noon on Friday.  The Bobcats went 21-8 a season ago, capturing the Sun Lakes Conference Championship and finishing the season ranked #10 in the NJCAA Division II Poll.  FSW will wrap up their first day of competition against Florida Gateway in a 4 PM first serve.  Saturday the competition will ramp up even more for the young Bucs as they battle defending national runner-ups and #2 ranked Miami Dade at 12 PM followed by a dual against the hosts Central Florida, who is ranked #4 in the preseason FCSAA coaches' poll, at 2 PM to close the weekend. 

Stay tuned to @FSWBucs on Twitter for in-match updates throughout the weekend and check out FSWBucs.com for postgame recaps and stats after all of the matches.