October 11, 2025
Bucs Sweep Saints in Return Home to Fort Myers
Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in three weeks, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put on a show Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, sweeping the visiting Santa Fe Saints for their 15th consecutive win to remain unbeaten in Citrus Conference play.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in three weeks, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put on a show Saturday afternoon in Suncoast Credit Union Arena, sweeping the visiting Santa Fe Saints for their 15th consecutive win to remain unbeaten in Citrus Conference play.
The Bucs got off to a slow start, falling behind 4-2 to begin the first, but quickly recovered with a 5-0 run moments later with Giovanna Rocha at the service line to take an 11-6 lead midway through the set. A combo block from Irina Makinen and Valentina Zevallos stretched the Bucs lead to six at 18-12 and Sara Webb served out the set from there as back to back blocks from Rocha and Aleksandra Lucic put FSW on the doorstep and kills from Magi Milicevic and Lucic put it in the books as the Bucs took the first 25-12 to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
The Bucs carried the momentum into the second, scoring six of the first seven ponts of the period to jump out to a 6-1 lead. The Saints worked their way back into things by the middle of the set, tying the score at 11 after back to back hitting errors by the Bucs. Makinen went over on a second ball for a kill to put the Bucs back ahead and FSW went on another long run, this time getting seven straight with Lucic toeing the line to go out in front 19-11. Santa Fe never threatened again as Rocha went over the block to give the Bucs set point and Lucic put a bow on it with a solo block in the middle as the Bucs won the second 25-15 to take a commanding 2-0 lead into the locker rooms at the intermission.
For the second straight set, the Bucs raced out to a big early lead in the third as a pair of Makinen aces capped a 4-0 run after a Saint service error to begin the period to put FSW in front 5-0. The Bucs padded their lead to 9-2 before kills from Kiley Petras and Letizia Okonofua opened things up to 16-7 in favor of FSW. The Bucs continued to pour it on, going up 20-8 after back to back kills from Okonofua. Santa Fe showed some fight late with a 5-1 run to make things respectable, but Brookelyn Savoya found Okonofua on the outside to finish things off as the Bucs took the third 25-18 to complete the 3-0 sweep.
Okonofua led the Bucs with 12 kills while Rocha filled the stat sheet with 10 kills, and a team best 4 aces and 4 blocks. Makinen finished with 28 assists while Webb led the Bucs with 13 digs in the win.
FSW wins their 15th straight to improve to 19-1 overall and remains perfect in Citrus Conference action at 8-0. Santa Fe falls to 9-12 overall and 1-7 in league play where they now sit on the outside looking in for the FCSAA Tournament in Fort Myers next month after Polk State upset Hillsborough Saturday in Winter Haven.
The Bucs will get a much needed rest Wednesday with their second half bye before returning to the court next Saturday on the road at Polk State before closing the regular season with three straight home matches.
