Koehler & Purashaj Named NJCAA All-Americans
Fresh off of their first NJCAA National Championship in program history, a pair of Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were honored individually by the NJCAA on Thursday as sophomore Barbara Koehler and freshman Roberta Purashaj were named to the NJCAA All-American Teams.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Fresh off of their first NJCAA National Championship in program history, a pair of Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were honored individually by the NJCAA on Thursday as sophomore Barbara Koehler and freshman Roberta Purashaj were named to the NJCAA All-American Teams.
Koehler earned First Team All-American honors, putting up a program single season record 3.74 kills per set this season. She finished 8th in the country in that category while posting a .324 hitting percentage which was best of any of the top 10 attackers in the country. Koehler didn't just contribute offensively though, she served up 45 aces and 40 blocks on the season and also scooped up 2.86 digs per set. Koehler had double figure kills in 21 of her 26 games played this season while posting eight double-doubles on the year. She saved her best for last, putting up 10 or more kills in all four games at the National Tournament while dialing up 10 aces on the weekend to lead FSW to their first National Championship in program history.
Purashaj picked up Second Team All-American accolades during her rookie season, quarterbacking the NJCAA's top offense. Off Purashaj's hands, FSW led the country with 13.58 kills per set while posting the second best hitting percentage in the country at .282. Individually Purashaj finished in the Top 10 in the country averaging 9.60 assists per set while also making her mark defensively with 2.36 digs and 0.53 blocks per set. She had 14 games of 30 or more assists this season including a program record 60 assist contest in FSW's season opening win over Trinity Valley. Her 874 total assists this season were second most in single season program history.
Koehler and Purashaj's honors mark the third straight season FSW has had multiple All-Americans and with Koehler's first team distinction, also the third straight year the Bucs have had a 1st Team All-American.
The Bucs duo joined three fellow FCSAA players on the All-American list as Miami Dade's Romina Cornelio was a fellow first teamer with Koehler while Polk State's Kaila Ru was named to the second team with Purashaj and Hillsborough's Alice Munari was named Honorable Mention.