WEST PLAINS, Mo.- The #6 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers made their NJCAA National Tournament debut Thursday night in the West Plains Civic Center as they took on perennial power and #3 Snow College from Utah in the tournament quarterfinals. The Bucs went toe to toe with the Badgers, but in the end, dropped a 3-0 decision and ending their quest for a National Championship in just their second season of competition.

 

The first point in FSW National Tournament history came on an ace from Viktoriya Ivanova to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead to begin their match with Snow.  It was tight early on with the two teams deadlocked at 7 and then 12 at the midway point of the first.  A 4-1 run for Snow pushed the Badgers in front 17-13 before three straight points from Amanda Mendes, two via kills and one via a solo block, got FSW back to within one at 17-16.  That was as close as the Bucs would get though as the Badgers stepped on the gas and finished the set strong, closing out FSW 25-21 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. 

 

The Bucs shook off the first set loss and got out to a good start in the second as Julia De Sa got a kill and then an ace to give FSW a quick 2-0 lead which they pushed to 7-3 on a perfectly executed slide from Kianie Cummings.  The Bucs held their four point advantage to the midpoint of the set at 11-7, but a 3-0 run by the Badgers got Snow back to within one at 11-10.  After Snow tied the score back up, a big block from Mendes and Yasso Amin put the Bucs back up by one at 16-15.  The Bucs couldn't hold the momentum though as Snow scored the next three to push ahead 19-17 and continued to pad their lead before finishing the Bucs off 25-20 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.  

 

The third set was the best of the night as FSW and Snow danced back and forth early to a 12-12 deadlock at the midway point of the period.  A block from Cummings and Kellen Valentim kept the set tied at 17 before a kill from De Sa gave the Bucs a one point lead at 19-18. Three straight from Snow gave the Badgers a 21-19 lead before the Bucs answered back with a 3-0 run of their own to go in front 22-21.  A sideout for Snow evened the score at 22 and the Badgers scored the final three of the set to win it 25-22 and take the match 3-0. 

 

It was a defensive battle as apparent on the stat sheet with Snow hitting .232 and FSW .160 in the match.  Amin finished with 10 kills and four blocks to lead the way for FSW while De Sa added nine kills and six digs.  Ivanova led the Bucs with 11 digs and also notched a pair of aces in the match.  

 

The Bucs fall to 20-7 on the year and see their chances at a National Championship come to an end.  Snow improves to 25-2 and moves on to the tournament semifinals where they will take on Tyler with a trip to the Championship match on the line. 

 

FSW will be back in action on Friday at 2 PM (CT) when they take on #2 Odessa with a spot in the 5th place match on the line.