TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 10, 2023) - The FCSAA has awarded Florida SouthWestern State College its host site for the 2023-26 FCSAA Division I Volleyball Championships.

Florida SouthWestern's bid was recommended by the FCSAA's Division I volleyball coaches and approved by the FCSAA's Council for Athletic Affairs in May. 

Located in Fort Myers, Fla., Florida SouthWestern's Suncoast Credit Union Arena will host the six-team championship event for the next four years, beginning November 3-4, 2023. In 2023 and 2025, a third day of play will serve as the NJCAA's Atlantic District Tournament. The four-team bracket will feature the FCSAA Champion and Runner-up and two qualifers from Regions 10, 15, 17 and 20. Winners of the two matches will punch a ticket to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championships. 

"Florida SouthWestern and Buccaneer Athletics are excited to serve as host of the next four FCSAA Division I/NJCAA Region 8 Volleyball Tournaments," said FSW Director of Athletics George Sanders. "November is a great time of year in Fort Myers and the facility is second-to-none for this event. We are also excited to host the NJCAA Atlantic District Championship in 2023 and 2025 as part of the same event. The FCSAA is consistently the standard in the NJCAA Volleyball ranks as proof by four Top 20 ranked teams participating in the 2022 event, as well as the two teams competing for the National Championship last year coming from our state."

Suncoast Credit Union Arena, which hosts FSW's basketball and volleyball teams, seats approximately 3,500 fans and includes six skyboxes. Since opening in 2016, it has hosted concerts, in addition to local, regional and national events. Most notably, the Arena plays host to the Geico High School Nationals and City of Palms Classic, widely regarded as the top two high school basketball tournaments in the country, and the Fort Myers Tip-Off, which features some of the NCAA's top men's basketball teams. 

"The FCSAA looks forward to returning to Fort Myers for its Division I Volleyball Championship," said FCSAA Associate Director and Athletics Commissioner Rob Chaney. "Suncoast Credit Union Arena is one of the premiere facilities in the NJCAA and will provide the perfect backdrop for some outstanding college volleyball competition. As one of our member colleges, I know Florida SouthWestern's athletics departmet will give everyone - the student-athletes, coaches and fans - a great tournament experience." 

Florida SouthWestern hosted the FCSAA's 2021 volleyball tournament and was preparing to host the 2022 edition until Hurricane Ian hit Fort Myers in September, prompting the event to relocate to Melbourne, Fla.