TALLAHASSEE, FLA.- For the second time this season, Florida SouthWestern freshman middle Deborah Ribeiro has been named the FCSAA Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the state on Tuesday. 

Ribeiro was stout in the middle for the Bucs last week, registering a team best 18 blocks in three FSW victories.  Tuesday against #5 Miami Dade she came up big with seven blocks for the Bucs, helping stifle a potent Shark attack in a 3-0 FSW victory.  Thursday she had three more stuffs in a 3-0 Buccaneer win over Indian River and closed out the week with a match high eight blocks Saturday in a road win over #19 Daytona State.  On the week Ribeiro averaged 2.0 blocks per set and also chipped in 1.0 digs per set for FSW. 

It is the second time Ribeiro has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after also being tabbed the state's top defender in week three of the season.  She currently ranks second in the state and fifth nationally averaging 1.61 blocks per set on the year.  Saturday she became just the third player in FSW history to achieve 100 blocks in a season, joining current UTEP Miner Yasso Amin and East Carolina Pirate Kianie Cummings who accomplished the feat last season for the Bucs. 

Ribeiro was joined by teammate Elissa Alcantara on the weekly winners list as she was named the FSCAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first full week of October. 

Ribeiro will look to add to her block total tonight as the Bucs host Eastern Florida State in more Suncoast Conference action beginning at 6 PM in Suncoast Arena in Fort Myers.