October 1, 2025
Bucs Down Rival Sharks in Championship Rematch
After dropping the first set, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers roared back to win the next three against the #2 Miami Dade Sharks Wednesday night in Miami to defeat the Sharks 3-1 in a rematch of the last three NJCAA National Championship Games. With the win, the Bucs 12th straight, FSW takes control of their own destiny atop the Citrus Conference standings as they look for their sixth consecutive league title.
MIAMI, Fla.- After dropping the first set, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers roared back to win the next three against the #2 Miami Dade Sharks Wednesday night in Miami to defeat the Sharks 3-1 in a rematch of the last three NJCAA National Championship Games. With the win, the Bucs 12th straight, FSW takes control of their own destiny atop the Citrus Conference standings as they look for their sixth consecutive league title.
The Bucs got off on the wrong foot to start the contest as Miami Dade picked up blocks on four of the first five points of the game to jump out to a quick 5-0 lead. The Bucs deficit reached seven at 9-2 before they kicked things into gear, slowly working their way back into the set midway through at 13-11. It remained a two point game later on, but an 8-2 run by the Sharks to close the set gave Miami Dade the first 25-17 and put the Bucs in a 1-0 hole as the teams went to the second. The Bucs recorded just seven kills in the period while committing eight errors and hitting -.028 as a team.
FSW got off to a much better start in the second, getting out to a 10-8 lead after seeing a pair of changes in their lineup to begin the set. The teams traded the next 10 points to 15-13 and it remained a two point game at 18-16 later in the period. Irina Makinen found Aleksandra Lucic for a kill in the middle to put the Bucs up three and it started FSW on a 5-1 run that included a pair of blocks from Lucic as well to give the Bucs their largest lead of the night at 23-17. Miami Dade scored three straight to draw back to within three, but kills from Letizia Okonofua and Sara Gamboa put the final touches on a 25-20 win for the Bucs to even the match at a set a piece. After hitting negative as a team in the first, the Bucs finished off 16 kills and hit .316 in the second to draw even with the Sharks.
The third was a game of runs early on as a 4-0 burst by the Sharks followed by five straight from FSW and then another four point run from Miami Dade had the Sharks in front 9-7. The Bucs drew even at 11 on a solo block from Valentina Zevallos in the middle and it remained deadlocked at 20 later in the period. The teams traded two point runs to 22-22 and then errors moments later to tie it up once again at 24. A big swing by Gamboa gave FSW set point at 25-24 and Makinen dialed up an ace at the perfect time to seal it as the Bucs took the third 26-24 to go up 2-1 in the match. The Bucs collected 16 more kills in the period while holding Miami Dade to just 9 and a .053 hitting percentage.
Through 20 points in the fourth neither team could gain an edge and the middle of the set remained tight as the Bucs and Sharks stayed tied at 18 with the match in the balance. An ace from Magi Milicevic gave the Bucs the lead and started a 4-1 run to put them on the brink of victory leading 22-19. A kill from Zevallos out of the middle gave FSW four cracks at match point, but they would need only one as a Miami Dade attack sailed long as the Bucs took the fourth 25-20 to win the match 3-1.
A handful of Bucs had career matches in the win as Gamboa racked up a season high 23 kills to lead the way for FSW while Okonofua had a career high 15 kills off the FSW bench. Makinen tied a career high with her second straight 50 assist contest while libero Sarah Webb matched her career high with 24 digs. Zevallos led the Bucs with 5 blocks in the victory and Lucic put together a solid effort with 8 kills, 8 digs, and 3 blocks for FSW.
The Bucs run their win streak to a dozen to improve to 16-1 overall on the year but more importantly take control of the Citrus Conference standings at 5-0. Miami Dade falls for just the second time this season as they drop to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in conference action.
FSW has won four straight in the series and is now 14-2 against the Sharks in the two rivals last 16 matchups.
The schedule doesn't lighten up for the Bucs as they play their third straight road match against a Top 20 opponent on Saturday when they travel to Daytona Beach to take on Daytona State in a 2 PM matinee from the Surf Coast.
