Florida SouthWestern Volleyball is officially the greatest team in NJCAA history — and now, they’ve got the rings to prove it.
After clinching their third consecutive national championship, the team gathered at Suncoast Arena on Wednesday for an emotional ring ceremony, five months in the making.
The event wasn’t just about the shiny new hardware; it was a celebration of the journey, the legacy, and the community that helped shape this dynasty.
"It’s so surreal. It just didn’t hit me to be fully transparent," said Julija Grubisic-Cabo, the NJCAA National Player of the Year. There was also a banner revealed for her POTY accomplishment.
With an incredible 26-1 record, FSW's three-peat is unlike anything in the history of NJCAA Division I Volleyball. This accomplishment has etched the Bucs' name in the record books, and the rings were a perfect fit for a team that has redefined excellence in the sport.
For head coach Thais Baziquetto-Allen, the day was bittersweet. After building the program from scratch, Baziquetto-Allen is leaving to take the head coach position at FGCU. But as she steps away, her legacy remains.
"It just feels special," said Baziquetto-Allen, who guided FSW to three national championships and multiple accolades. "FSW is always going to be such a special place for me. [Not just] for my career, but for my growth as a coach and as a person, and how to create a program. I think there's very few coaches in their life that get the chance to start something from the ground, and being able to do that and be successful is just...I love it."
Her hope is to see the next generation of Bucs honor the tradition she built.
"I just hope they honor the jersey they're wearing and the name on the front and just kind of keep the legacy and the tradition that the teams before them had," she said.
Despite the emotional weight of the moment, the Bucs are already looking ahead to what’s next — and they’re thinking big. The next goal is clear: "Four-peat."
"I know we're going to do great stuff together because this team has passion. This team is a family, and that's what's going to keep us going," freshman Magi Milicevic said.
It was a bittersweet night for the Bucs, realizing that their dream season is over. But for this night, they just soaked it all in.
"If I could relive this year ten times, I would. Selfishly, I never want to leave," said Grubisic-Cabo.
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