Posted: Nov 21, 2024
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers began their quest for a three peat with a bang on Wednesday at the NJCAA National Tournament in Clarksville, Tennessee, hitting .397 as a team and registering 12 blocks in a 3-0 sweep of Eastern Wyoming in their opening match of the week.
The Bucs flexed their muscles right away against the Lancers, who made their first tournament appearance in nearly 30 years, going on an early 6-1 run to get out to a 9-4 lead to begin the match. Eastern Wyoming closed it to a three point game midway through the set before another burst by the Bucs, this time with Camilla Brandalise at the service line, opened up an eight point cushion for FSW at 17-9. The Lancers kept trying to work their way back into thing, but every time they did, the Bucs block was there to prevent that from happening as Giovanna Rocha got a solo stuff to get the Bucs to 20 and Nina Boledovicova and Patrycja Labucka combined on a block to put the Bucs to set point before Irina Makinen connected with Boledovicova in the middle to close it out as FSW took the first 25-16 to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
The Bucs carried their momentum right over into the second as they jumped out to a 6-2 and then 10-4 advantage on the Lancers. A pair of Labucka kills and a block from Boledovicova padded the lead to double digits before Julija Grubisic Cabo went down the line to open it up to a 10-9 lead for FSW later on. The Bucs didn't relent as Nele Broszat got them to set point before an ace finished the Lancers off as FSW rolled to a 25-13 win in the second to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
With their backs to the wall and midnight approaching on the Cinderella Lancers, Eastern Wyoming came out strong in the third, taking their first lead of the match at 7-5 at the 12 point mark. It was short lived however as Brandalise again caused fits for the Eastern Wyoming pass at the service line, picking up a pair of aces to give the Bucs the lead back at 14-11 midway through. Valentina Zevallos came in off the FSW bench to give the Bucs a spark with five third set kills including the clincher as the Bucs won the third 25-17 to wrap up the sweep 3-0.
It was another workman like effort for the Bucs who hit .397 as a team and got kills from eight different players in the win. Grubisic Cabo led the way with 9 kills and a .438 hitting percentage while Labucka notched 8 and hit .636 in the victory. After setting a career high with 19 assists in the Bucs FCSAA State Championship Game win over Miami Dade, Makinen took things up a rung with a new career high 21 helpers in her National Tournament debut. Brandalise and Abby Toeniskoetter both finished with 4 aces for the Bucs while Rocha was in on half of the Bucs 12 blocks as a team on the night.
FSW wins their 13th straight match overall and 11th straight National Tournament match to improve to 23-1 on the year while Eastern Wyoming falls to 26-10.
The Bucs advance to the quarterfinal round on Thursday where they will take on #8 Utah State-Eastern in a prime-time matchup at 8 PM (ET) with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
