FORT MYERS, Fla.- After help lead the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers to a 53-5 record the past two seasons, sophomore middle Valentina Zevallos has signed to play at Southern Illinois University in 2026.

Zevallos played in 29 matches for the Bucs as a sophomore this season, averaging 1.41 kills and 0.80 blocks per set. She recorded a pair of double digit kill efforts, the first coming in a win over Eastern Florida, the second in the Bucs National Semifinal victory over Weatherford. She racked up 75 total blocks in 2025, setting her career high with 8 against Southern Idaho and then matching that again in the National Quarterfinals against Trinity Valley.

Zevallos goes to Carbondale as a winner, taking the 2024 NJCAA National Championship, and 2025 national Runner-Up experience along with her. In her two seasons with the Bucs, Zevallos helped FSW to a 53-5 overall record.

Zevallos is one of 10 FSW sophomores to sign at the next level this season including seven at the Division I level, joining Sara Gamboa (Florida Atlantic), Patrycja Labucka (South Dakota State), Dinara Sabitova (Florida Gulf Coast), Giovanna Rocha (South Florida-Beach), Magi Milicevic (Binghamton), Sara Gasparini (Morgan State), Aleksandra Lucic (Mercy), Sarah Webb & Irina Makinen (Eckerd).