September 7, 2023
Bucs Sweep Hawks In Citrus Conference Opener
The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers reigned supreme in the Suncoast Conference the past three seasons, winning back to back to back league titles, but Wednesday a new journey began for the Purple and Aqua as they played their inaugural Citrus Conference contest, sweeping the Hillsborough Hawks 3-0 on the road to improve to 9-0 on the year.
TAMPA, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers reigned supreme in the Suncoast Conference the past three seasons, winning back to back to back league titles, but Wednesday a new journey began for the Purple and Aqua as they played their inaugural Citrus Conference contest, sweeping the Hillsborough Hawks 3-0 on the road to improve to 9-0 on the year.
#1 FSW got off to a quick start against the Hawks, jumping out to a 6-2 and then 13-7 lead midway through the first set. Hillsborough closed the gap to just two at 18-16 ahead of an FSW timeout, but the reset was just what the doctor ordered for the Bucs as FSW closed the set on a 7-3 run, capped by a rocket out of the back row from Alondra Alarcon to give the Bucs the set 25-19 to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
The second was a back and forth tussle between the two as both sides tried to find their footing and take control. FSW used a 4-1 run, highlighted by a huge solo stuff from Izzy Collier to take a 13-9 lead midway through the set, but Hillsborough roared back, tying the score in the blink of an eye to tie the score up at 13 and force a timeout by the Bucs. After splitting the next six points to 16-16, a second ball kill from Roberta Purashaj put the Bucs back in front and two plays later an ace from Victoria Zibecchi gave FSW some breathing room at 19-16. The Bucs didn't stop there, stretching their lead to seven before Purashaj's second kill of the set sealed it as FSW took the set 25-17 to go ahead 2-0 in the match.
Zibecchi, Alarcon, and Sara Gasparini started the third set with kills to give FSW a quick 3-0 advantage and they never looked back from there. Camila Brandalise found Madu Fontes on the right side to push the lead to 12-6 midway through the set and another rocket from Alarcon cushioned it to 20-11 late in the period. With victory in their sights, Gasparini took over, smashing back to back kills to finish the set and the match as the Bucs took the third 25-15 to sweep the match 3-0.
Alarcon and Zibecchi combined for 25 kills in the win while Purashaj dished out a match high 31 assists for an FSW offense that hit above .300 in all three sets and .320 overall on the night. Clara Maidantchik set a new career high with 21 digs in the win which was good for second most in a three set match in program history.
FSW remains unbeaten on the season at 9-0 with the victory while winning their conference opener for the 5th straight year. Hillsborough falls to 6-5 overall and starts league action at 0-1.
After a day off, the Bucs will head right back to Tampa on Friday to take part in the Hawks tournament with a pair of games on Friday before a Top 25 matchup with #15 Monroe on Saturday to close out the weekend.