Story Links FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University director of athletics Colin Hargis is pleased to announce that Thais Baziquetto-Allen has been named the new head coach for the school's volleyball program."I am thrilled to announce the addition of Thais Baziquetto-Allen as the next leader of our volleyball program," said Hargis. "Thais' passion, experience, commitment to excellence and connection to the Southwest Florida community will champion FGCU volleyball's continued success.""I'm beyond excited to start at FGCU," said Baziquetto-Allen. "I want to thank Colin Hargis and sport supervisor Matt Ring for the opportunity. FGCU has a great volleyball tradition. [Former head coach] Matt Botsford did a tremendous job with the program, and I look forward to helping the program reach new heights."No stranger to the sidelines in the Southwest Florida area, Baziquetto-Allen won three consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championships at Florida SouthWestern State College, capping the run in 2024 with an impressive 26-1 record and a 3-0 sweep of Miami Dade College in the championship match. She departs FSW with a 145-25 (.853) overall record and a 65-5 (.929) mark in conference play."I'm grateful for the opportunity I had at FSW," Baziquetto-Allen said. "The success there helped me prepare to be successful at FGCU. I'm excited to stay in the area and bring the fans and community closer to FGCU volleyball."FGCU's newest head coach has already started contacting the current Eagles roster. "I spoke with them briefly, but I'm excited to get on campus next week and start our spring training," said Baziquetto-Allen.The Eagles have won four consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championships and have made four trips to the NCAA Tournament in as many years. After winning the regular season championship last season, the Eagles will host the ASUN Tournament in 2025.During her time at FSW, Baziquetto-Allen was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2022-24 and recruited and coached the NJCAA National Player of the Year during those three years as well. Barbara Koehler, a standout on the 2024 FGCU squad, won the award in 2022. Roberta Purashaj received the recognition in 2023, and Julija Grubisic Cabo received the award in 2024.Baziquetto-Allen also had a proven track record at FSW of sending players to the next level, with 25 players moving to Division I and 32 continuing their careers at the four-year level.The Bucs won their second-straight NJCAA National Championship in 2023 as Baziquetto-Allen led the program to a school-record 31 wins. FSW would go 31-1 on the season, only dropping seven out of 102 sets played throughout the year. The Bucs would be the top-ranked team throughout 2023, with FSW defeating 17 ranked teams, including cross-state rival Miami Dade, in the national finals. Purashaj and outside hitter Alondra Alarcon swept the National Player of the Year honors, with Purashaj earning NJCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year accolades. At the same time, Alarcon was the VolleyMag Player of the Year.In 2022, Baziquetto-Allen led FSW to its first NJCAA National Championship in the program's fourth year overall. Baziquetto-Allen was named the NJCAA and AVCA National Coach of the Year, leading the Bucs to a 27-1 overall record. The Bucs entered the NJCAA National Tournament as the top overall seed. They defended that spot, dropping just one set in their four matches. FSW defeated in-state rival Miami Dade 3-1 in the championship to claim the national title. The Bucs had two All-Americans for the third-straight year, including Koehler, who was named the NJCAA and AVCA National Player of the Year.In 2021, Baziquetto-Allen and the Bucs finished with a 25-5 overall record, a Suncoast Conference championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Bucs were ranked in the top spot nationally for the final seven weeks of the regular season after going a perfect 16-0 to win their second straight Suncoast Conference Title. At the NJCAA National Tournament, the Bucs went 3-1, defeating archrivals Miami Dade on the tournament's final day to notch a top-five finish. For the second straight season, Baziquetto-Allen had a pair of NJCAA All-Americans in Maria Petkova and Deborah Ribeiro, who were both named First-Team selections.In the 2020-21 season, Baziquetto-Allen led FSW to its first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament, finishing the season 20-9 overall and an eighth-place finish. She was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year as FSW captured its first Suncoast Conference championship in program history with an 8-0 record to hoist the hardware. The Bucs finished as runners-up at the FCSAA State Tournament in Jacksonville. They punched their ticket to the National Tournament with a Southeast District B Championship victory over Spartanburg Methodist. The firsts continued for the Bucs as Yasso Amin and Fiona Baker became the first FSW volleyball All-Americans in program history at the season's end.In Nov. 2020 Baziquetto-Allen was one of just two NJCAA coaches and one of 25 nationally across all levels to win the AVCA's Diversity Award.FGCU's new head coach went to FSW after spending three seasons as the head coach at Seward County CC in Liberal, Kansas. In her three years as the head coach with the Lady Saints, Baziquetto-Allen amassed an overall record of 86-28 (.754) while going 43-5 (.896) in Jayhawk West play.Baziquetto-Allen was one of just three NJCAA coaches to receive an AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award in 2017. The award honors up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport of volleyball. To qualify for the award, nominees had to be 30 years old or younger in 2016.Before going to Seward CC, Baziquetto-Allen was the head coach at Liberal High School for four seasons. She began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Lamar Community College in Colorado. In her only season with the Lopes, Baziquetto-Allen helped LCC to a 26-win season, which included recruiting three All-Conference players.As a player, Baziquetto-Allen starred at Western New Mexico University and St. Petersburg College. As a senior at Western New Mexico, she was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and graduated with honors from WNMU. As a student-athlete at St. Pete, she helped the Titans to a 26-9 record during her sophomore season and was on the President's Honor Roll.A native of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Baziquetto-Allen played at the highest club level of amateur volleyball in Brazil and still maintains strong connections in the Sao Paulo area. She is married to Roy Allen and resides in Cape Coral with their dogs, Kai and Ace.Print Friendly Version

Story Links FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University director of athletics Colin Hargis is pleased to announce that Thais Baziquetto-Allen has been named the new head coach for the school’s volleyball program.”I’m beyond excited to start at FGCU,” said Baziquetto-Allen. “I want to thank Colin Hargis and sport supervisor Matt Ring for the […]

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University director of athletics Colin Hargis is pleased to announce that Thais Baziquetto-Allen has been named the new head coach for the school’s volleyball program.”I’m beyond excited to start at FGCU,” said Baziquetto-Allen. “I want to thank Colin Hargis and sport supervisor Matt Ring for the opportunity. FGCU has a great volleyball tradition. [Former head coach] Matt Botsford did a tremendous job with the program, and I look forward to helping the program reach new heights.”As a player, Baziquetto-Allen starred at Western New Mexico University and St. Petersburg College. As a senior at Western New Mexico, she was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and graduated with honors from WNMU. As a student-athlete at St. Pete, she helped the Titans to a 26-9 record during her sophomore season and was on the President’s Honor Roll.In the 2020-21 season, Baziquetto-Allen led FSW to its first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament, finishing the season 20-9 overall and an eighth-place finish. She was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year as FSW captured its first Suncoast Conference championship in program history with an 8-0 record to hoist the hardware. The Bucs finished as runners-up at the FCSAA State Tournament in Jacksonville. They punched their ticket to the National Tournament with a Southeast District B Championship victory over Spartanburg Methodist. The firsts continued for the Bucs as Yasso Amin and Fiona Baker became the first FSW volleyball All-Americans in program history at the season’s end.”I am thrilled to announce the addition of Thais Baziquetto-Allen as the next leader of our volleyball program,” said Hargis. “Thais’ passion, experience, commitment to excellence and connection to the Southwest Florida community will champion FGCU volleyball’s continued success.”The Bucs won their second-straight NJCAA National Championship in 2023 as Baziquetto-Allen led the program to a school-record 31 wins. FSW would go 31-1 on the season, only dropping seven out of 102 sets played throughout the year.

The Bucs would be the top-ranked team throughout 2023, with FSW defeating 17 ranked teams, including cross-state rival Miami Dade, in the national finals. Purashaj and outside hitter Alondra Alarcon swept the National Player of the Year honors, with Purashaj earning NJCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year accolades. At the same time, Alarcon was the VolleyMag Player of the Year.No stranger to the sidelines in the Southwest Florida area, Baziquetto-Allen won three consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championships at Florida SouthWestern State College, capping the run in 2024 with an impressive 26-1 record and a 3-0 sweep of Miami Dade College in the championship match. She departs FSW with a 145-25 (.853) overall record and a 65-5 (.929) mark in conference play.Baziquetto-Allen also had a proven track record at FSW of sending players to the next level, with 25 players moving to Division I and 32 continuing their careers at the four-year level.Baziquetto-Allen was one of just three NJCAA coaches to receive an AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award in 2017. The award honors up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport of volleyball. To qualify for the award, nominees had to be 30 years old or younger in 2016.The Eagles have won four consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championships and have made four trips to the NCAA Tournament in as many years. After winning the regular season championship last season, the Eagles will host the ASUN Tournament in 2025.FGCU’s newest head coach has already started contacting the current Eagles roster. “I spoke with them briefly, but I’m excited to get on campus next week and start our spring training,” said Baziquetto-Allen.During her time at FSW, Baziquetto-Allen was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2022-24 and recruited and coached the NJCAA National Player of the Year during those three years as well. Barbara Koehler, a standout on the 2024 FGCU squad, won the award in 2022. Roberta Purashaj received the recognition in 2023, and Julija Grubisic Cabo received the award in 2024.In 2022, Baziquetto-Allen led FSW to its first NJCAA National Championship in the program’s fourth year overall. Baziquetto-Allen was named the NJCAA and AVCA National Coach of the Year, leading the Bucs to a 27-1 overall record. The Bucs entered the NJCAA National Tournament as the top overall seed. They defended that spot, dropping just one set in their four matches. FSW defeated in-state rival Miami Dade 3-1 in the championship to claim the national title. The Bucs had two All-Americans for the third-straight year, including Koehler, who was named the NJCAA and AVCA National Player of the Year.FGCU’s new head coach went to FSW after spending three seasons as the head coach at Seward County CC in Liberal, Kansas. In her three years as the head coach with the Lady Saints, Baziquetto-Allen amassed an overall record of 86-28 (.754) while going 43-5 (.896) in Jayhawk West play.In Nov. 2020 Baziquetto-Allen was one of just two NJCAA coaches and one of 25 nationally across all levels to win the AVCA’s Diversity Award.In 2021, Baziquetto-Allen and the Bucs finished with a 25-5 overall record, a Suncoast Conference championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Bucs were ranked in the top spot nationally for the final seven weeks of the regular season after going a perfect 16-0 to win their second straight Suncoast Conference Title. At the NJCAA National Tournament, the Bucs went 3-1, defeating archrivals Miami Dade on the tournament’s final day to notch a top-five finish. For the second straight season, Baziquetto-Allen had a pair of NJCAA All-Americans in Maria Petkova and Deborah Ribeiro, who were both named First-Team selections.Before going to Seward CC, Baziquetto-Allen was the head coach at Liberal High School for four seasons. She began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Lamar Community College in Colorado. In her only season with the Lopes, Baziquetto-Allen helped LCC to a 26-win season, which included recruiting three All-Conference players.A native of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Baziquetto-Allen played at the highest club level of amateur volleyball in Brazil and still maintains strong connections in the Sao Paulo area. She is married to Roy Allen and resides in Cape Coral with their dogs, Kai and Ace.”I’m grateful for the opportunity I had at FSW,” Baziquetto-Allen said. “The success there helped me prepare to be successful at FGCU. I’m excited to stay in the area and bring the fans and community closer to FGCU volleyball.”

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