TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- For the first time in Florida SouthWestern history, the FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year award will reside in Fort Myers for the next year as Volleyball superstar Julija Grubisic Cabo has earned the award, making her the first Buccaneer in school history to do so.

Grubisic Cabo was the Citrus Conference, FCSAA, and NJCAA National Player of the Year in 2024 while also earning MVP honors at the FCSAA and NJCAA National Tournaments. The model of consistency, Grubisic Cabo registered 8 or more kills in 24 of 26 FSW matches in 2024 including 20 matches with 10 or more kills. She averaged 3.43 kills per set while hitting .351 which is the highest of any FSW pin in program history and 43 points higher than any other outside hitter in the NJCAA Division I ranks this season. Also a stalwart on the defensive side of the net, Grubisic Cabo led FSW with 2.58 digs per set and had just 15 reception errors in 362 chances this season.

She is the first female athlete in FSW history to earn the FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year award and joins Bucs Baseball player and current San Diego Padre farmhand Victor Figueroa as the only two players in FSW history to receive the honors.

Bucs fans won't have to go far to continue cheering on Grubisic Cabo as she will remain in Fort Myers for the next two seasons to play for Florida Gulf Coast University.