FORT MYERS, Fla.- After starring for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers the past two seasons, Bucs captain Maria Petkova has signed her National Letter of Intent to play at the University of San Francisco next season. 

 

Petkova has been the Bucs top player this season, leading the team with 3.23 kills per set in route to 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-Region honors. She has 14 double digit kill matches this season including a program record 26 in the Bucs FCSAA State Tournament win over Indian River.  Also one of the Bucs top defense players, Petkova had 10 or more digs 12 times and paired them six times with 10 or more kills for double-doubles this season.  

 

She heads to the NJCAA National Tournament in Kansas this week ranked second in FSW history in both kills with 480 and digs with 430. 

 

Petkova will head to San Francisco to play for the Dons who compete in the West Coast Conference, the top non-Power 5 conference in the country for collegiate volleyball.  USF is in rebuilding mode under first year Head Coach Diogo Silva, going winless in WCC play in 2021.  Petkova will have a familiar face to welcome her upon her arrival to the Golden City as she teams back up with 2020 Bucs teammate Kellen Valentim who competed for the Dons this fall.  

 

Petkova is the eighth NCAA Division I signee for the Bucs over the past two seasons, joining 2021 teammate Elissa Alcantara (Cincinnati) as the first two from this year's sophomore class.  

 

Petkova and the Bucs begin their quest at the NJCAA National Tournament today in Hutchinson, Kansas, taking on Monroe at 4 PM (EST) in first round action.