Category: Athletics

Head coach Matt Watts and the Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team has been predicted to finish third overall in the Sunshine State Conference following the release of the SSC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Sharks were one of just three teams to earn first-place votes – pulling in two – as part of their 72 total points collected in the voting process. Lynn topped the poll with seven first-place tallies and 97 points, while Palm Beach Atlantic was projected runner-up with 90 points and the final two first-place nods. Florida Tech and Tampa rounded out the Top-5.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurned the Sharks from competition in 2020. Still, following three consecutive winning seasons, including a 9-6-3 record in 2019, NSU enters the fall receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national rankings.
To stay up to date with the Sharks throughout the season, follow them on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_MSoccer.

Richard Mansell and Ricardo Celia, former golfers on Nova Southeastern Sharks men’s golf team, made their major championship debuts on July 15 at the 149^th Open Championship, the world’s oldest major golf tournament. This year’s Open Championship was held at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England.

Celia, a native of Barranquilla, Colombia, arrived at Nova Southeastern as a freshman in the fall of 2010 and graduated following the 2014 spring season as one of the program’s most highly decorated players. He was named to the All-Sunshine State Conference team all four years, including first team honors in both 2012 and 2013. He also finished among the top-3 at each of his four SSC Championships, with a first-place tie as a freshman and a two-stroke victory in 2013. In addition, he earned recognition on three Golf Coaches Association of America All-American teams, the best of which was a first team nod in 2013, when he finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally, as well as a place on the All-Freshman team in 2011. In 2012, he aided the Sharks to the first National Championship in program history, defeating his Chico State opponent in the final round of match play by a single stroke. He earned his spot in this year’s Open as the winner of the 2019 Open de Argentina, waiting an extra year to fulfill his dream because the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled last year’s event.

“It is a dream come true. Playing an event of this caliber is something I will never forget. I feel like I’m in a kind of movie surrounded by the best actors on the planet. The happiness I feel is indescribable,” Celia told PGATour.com. He also played his practice round with six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, who won the event in 2013, and 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, adding “I wanted to put some pressure on myself before the first round to experience a little of what the tournament will be like. Playing with two idols like Mickelson and DeChambeau was amazing.”

Mansell, playing 213 miles from his hometown of Staffordshire, England, came to the Sharks as a transfer after a year at fellow NCAA Division II member Newberry College in South Carolina and wasted no time in making a name for himself. Much like Celia before him, Mansell also received a GCAA First Team All-American honor, finished the season with the No. 3 ranking in all of DII, and helped the Sharks to a National Championship, all in his first season with the program in 2015. He would go on to be named to both the All-SSC and All-American teams in all three years, picking up four SSC Golfer of the Week awards along the way. Another top-10 DII finish (No. 9) and individual National Championship run followed in 2016, and in 2017, he represented Team Europe at the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and was a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus Division II Player of the Year award. He was named to the 156-player field as a final qualifier from an event held at Notts Golf Club in Nottingham at the end of June.

 

After the postponement of the 2020 volleyball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSU volleyball team has its eyes set on a successful 2021 season, adding five newcomers to their roster. Joining the team for the upcoming season are Bruna Avila, Jovana Bulatovic, Jordan “JoJo” Chessar, Kate Mihacevich and Cambry Pope.

“Having our season cancelled this past year was hard, but also allowed us time in the gym to train and really figure out the needs of our team moving forward,” explained head coach Brian Rosen. “After one of the best seasons in program history in 2019 and ending the year on a six-game winning streak, we look ahead to the fall of 2021 with big goals in mind, and I could not be more excited about this incoming class that will be joining our Shark family in August. Each student athlete will not only add to our team’s ability to be successful in matches, but more importantly, add to the family culture that we have worked so hard to establish here at NSU both on and off the court. I think my favorite part about this year’s incoming class is the fact that each and every one of them wanted to be here so badly. Their passion for this university was clear from day one.”

Bruna Avila – University of South Carolina Upstate
Coming from Brazil to Daytona State College, Avila was named First Team All-Conference, AVCA All-Region, AVCA All-American, and the Roberta Stokes Award winner for the conference as the top student-athlete graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Her success continued at NCAA DI member USC Upstate where she helped lead the Spartans to its second .500 or better season in program history. After sharing setting duties most of the season, she was moved into the full-time setting role with six matches to go, going on to win all six matches. As a Spartan, Avila averaged a Big South Conference-best 11.3 assists/set and had two double-doubles. She also finished third overall in the Big South in assists per set.

“Bruna may be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, but she is a fierce competitor on the court,” said Rosen. “Bruna will be able to come in and instantly improve our offensive efficiency. She brings a tremendous amount of experience to a young positional group. I also love her ability to play defense as a setter. Her nonstop effort will fit in perfectly with our gym culture. I cannot wait to see what she helps us accomplish during her two years as a Shark.”

Jovana Bulatovic – Eastern Kentucky
As a sophomore in 2019 at Eastern Kentucky, Jovana played in all 30 of the Colonels’ matches and finished third on the team with 181 kills (1.8 per set) and second on the team with 58 blocks. In a COVID-shortened 2021 spring season, she once again finished third on the team in kills with 137 (2.6 per set) and had the second-best hitting percentage of .211. With several team injuries, Bulatovic did it all for the Colonels, playing outside, right side, and defense. She also plays for the EKU beach volleyball team.

“Jovana has a cannon for an arm and can play all over the court,” remarked Rosen. “Her head coach at EKU could not stop raving about the kind of teammate and leader she is, and how much she will add to our culture. Jovana is a point scorer and will be a huge help to our offense, but I also like that she can block at a high level too. With two years of eligibility left, Jovana will be able to make a big impact on our program.”

Jordan “JoJo” Chessar – Padua Franciscan HS
Chessar plays high school for one of the best programs in the country, ranking as high as number one in the MaxPreps 2020 poll. Her team finished state runner-up in 2019 and 2020, and she has been a huge impact player for them in the middle and right side. As a six-rotation right side her senior year, Chessar finished the season with 167 kills, 122 digs, a team best 39 aces, and 37 blocks, earning her a spot on the All-District Second Team. She also plays club volleyball for Cleveland Volleyball Company, and her team just finished third in the country at USAV Junior Nationals.

“JoJo was our very first commit in this class, and we fell in love with her instantly at camp. She has an infectious, positive attitude and our team knew right away that she was exactly what we were looking for. On the court, JoJo can do it all. I’ve watched her play outside, middle, right side, and defensive specialist. She has a great arm and can attack in front and behind. She will simply do anything that she is asked to do, and I know she is going to add so much to our program on and off the court the next four years.”

Kate Mihacevich – Padua Franciscan HS
Mihacevich, a high school teammate of Chessar, also played for the back-to-back Ohio state runner-up and MaxPreps No. 1-nationally ranked, Padua Bears. Mihacevich played all the way around on the outside in her senior year and finished the 2020 season as a Second Team All-District member with 206 kills, 145 digs, 38 blocks and 37 aces. Along with Chessar, Mihacevich was named AVCA All-American Watch List. She also just finished her club volleyball career on one of the best teams in the country, qualifying and competing in the open division at USAV Junior Nationals.

“Kate has a fast arm, plays high, and can score from both pins,” described Rosen. “I love that she has been able to train at such a high level through high school and club. She has been playing with and against the best players in the country which will prepare her well for our conference. This past summer at our high school camp, she really impressed our coaching staff, and solidified our interest when, at match point in a tight championship match, she absolutely exploded a swing on the outside. She continues to improve her backrow skills and I think she has a very bright future in our program.”

Cambry Pope – Lake Nona HS
Pope played for the second-best high school team in the state of Florida, Lake Nona, who fell in the FHSAA 7A State Championship match in five sets. She finished with an incredible 22 kills and 26 digs for the match. On the season, Pope finished with 286 kills (3.5 per set), 199 digs, and 27 aces. Her club team, Oviedo Volleyball Academy, qualified for USAV nationals and finished 13th overall.
“The fact that we were able to pick up a player as good as Cambry this late in the recruiting process was remarkable,” admitted Rosen. “She has great size and length that will fit in so well in our conference. Cambry has a great arm and can use the entire court. From her visit, we could tell that this is where she was meant to be. She jumped right in to being a part of the team before we even offered by writing her goals on our whiteboard and instantly connecting with our team. She’s already a solid player, but I think Cambry has such a high ceiling. We look forward to watching her grow and make an impact the next four years.”