FORT PIERCE, Fla.- The #6 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers couldn't overcome their worst offensive performance of the year Friday afternoon on the road at Indian River, committing 30 attack errors and hitting just .133 as a team in a 3-1 loss to the Pioneers to conclude the 2021 regular season. 

 

The Bucs weren't in it from the start in the first set as they fell behind quickly 6-2 and saw that grow to 16-7 midway through the set. Their deficit grew to double digits before a late run got them back to within six, but the early hole was too large as the Pioneers took the first 25-18 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. 

 

FSW started the second better, but again, midway through it was the Pioneers with a 14-11 lead.  A run by the Bucs evened the score at 21 late and FSW won the sprint to the finish line to take the second 25-23 and even the match up at 1-1.  

 

The third was highly contested most the way as Indian River got out to an early three point lead before the Bucs responded to tie the score at 18 later on. A 5-1 run for the Bucs out of a timeout gave FSW a 23-19 lead and they looked primed to take their second straight set and a 2-1 lead in the match, but a service error into the net on set point and an attack wide for another freebie for the Pioneers tied the score at 24 and sent the set to extra points.  A big block by the Bucs gave FSW another chance to take the set at 26-25, but their eighth hitting error of the set allowed the Pioneers to tie it and Indian River scored the next two to take the set 28-26 and a 2-1 lead in the match. 

 

The Bucs got off to their best start of the afternoon in the 4th with their backs to the wall as they jumped out to an 11-7 lead ahead of a Pioneer timeout. But that was short lived as Indian River quickly came back to tie the score at 14 before pushing ahead by a pair.  The Bucs showed some fight, tying the score back up at 18 and it remained tied at 21-21 later in the set.  FSW went flat from there though as they were called in the net on a Pioneer attack that sailed wide to give Indian River a lead and three straight hitting errors for the Bucs sealed their fate as the Pioneers took the final five points of the set to win it 25-21 and take the match 3-1. 

 

There were a number of glaring numbers on the final stat sheet for FSW.  The Bucs 30 hitting errors were the most all season and that contributed to a season low .133 hitting percentage in the match.  FSW had 14 service errors which tied a season high and their 4 aces on the afternoon were the second lowest total this season.  

 

Individually Julia De Sa finished with 20 kills and 15 digs for a big double-double while Yasso Amin had 11 kills and a team best 5 blocks.  Kianie Cummings had 7 kills and hit a team best .545 in the match while also picking up 4 blocks for FSW.  

 

The Bucs see a seven match win streak snapped with the loss as they end the regular season 16-4 while Indian River wins their third straight to move to 11-6 on the year.  

 

FSW will have some time to get the train back on the tracks as they will be off for the next 13 days before returning to action on March 25th at the FCSAA State Tournament in Jacksonville.