November 19, 2025
Offense Powers Bucs Past Cards in National Tournament Opener
A pair of program records fell for the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers on Wednesday in their opening round match at the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament in Clarksville, Tennessee. The Bucs hammered home 57 kills and setter Irina Makinen dished out 48 assists as FSW rolled past the #15 Mineral Area Cardinals to advance to the tournament quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- A pair of program records fell for the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers on Wednesday in their opening round match at the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament in Clarksville, Tenneesee. The Bucs hammered home 57 kills and setter Irina Makinen dished out 48 assists as FSW rolled past the #15 Mineral Area Cardinals to advance to the tournament quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.
The first was all FSW from the start as the Bucs jumped out to an early 10-4 lead behind an onslaught from Letizia Okonofua on the outside who recorded five kills in the first 14 points of the contest. An ace from Aleksandra Lucic bumped the lead to 16-7 midway through the set and a 5-0 run with Irina Makinen at the service line moments later put them up double digits at 21-11. The Bucs and Cards traded points from there, but that was fine with the Purple and Aqua as they finished off a 25-16 first set win to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
The second set was a different story as the Bucs fell behind 9-3 to begin the period and it wasn't until Okonofua and Sara Gamboa combined for four straight kills that they drew back even at 10-10. Mineral Area regained control and picked up a pair of blocks to go back in front 17-13, but the Bucs answered with four straight to level the score once again at 17. Makinen connected with Okonofua for back to back kills to put the Bucs in front 20-19 and Sara Gamboa picked up a pair of kills to push FSW to set point at 24-22. Lucic finished off a four point run at the service line with an ace as FSW took the second 25-22 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
For the second straight set, the Bucs trailed 9-3 at the dozen point mark in the third. Over the next four points it was the Makinen and Lucic show as the two combined for four straight kills to get the Bucs back to within a pair at 9-7. Outside of one two point run for each side, the Bucs and Cardinals passed sideouts back and forth over the next 20 points to push the score to 19-17 in favor of Mineral Area late in the set. Giovanna Rocha found the floor with a kill to tie the score at 21, but the Cardinals scored three of the next four to give themselves a pair of set points with a 24-22 lead. An Okonofua kill staved off one set point chance for the Bucs and a Gamboa kill after a long rally tied the score back up at 24. Mineral Area got the ball back for their third set point, but once again it was a Gamboa kill that tied the score and kept the Bucs alive in the set. Makinen found Gamboa for another kill to give the Bucs their first lead of the set at 26-25 and moments later she finished off her 19th kill of the morning to win it 27-25 for FSW and give the Bucs the sweep.
The Bucs finished with a three set program team record 57 kills in the win including 23 in the clinching third set while Makinen's 48 assists shattered the Bucs previous high in a three setter. Gamboa finished with 19 kills to lead all hitters while Okonofua added 15 and Lucic picked up 10 without an error on 15 swings to hit .667. Okonofua and Lucic led the Bucs at the net with 3 blocks apiece while Sarah Webb posted 20 digs for FSW on the back line.
FSW wins their 14 consecutive National Tournament match to improve to 25-3 on the year while Mineral Area falls to 27-3.
Next up for the Bucs is a quarterfinal matchup with the #6 Trinity Valley Cardinals on Thursday at 5:00 PM (ET) in an opening weekend rematch FSW won 3-0 in Suncoast Arena.
