1-General | 4/28/2026 11:22:00 AM

Barry University Athletics hosted the Tenth Annual Bucky Awards on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

The Bucs celebrated the past year's accomplishments of the student-athletes with awards for Newcomer of the Year, Most Improved Athlete, Best Individual Performance, Career Achievement, Best Play, and Best Game, and the Iron Buc Awards. In addition, the varsity and club teams recognized their individual team award winners.

Newcomer of the Year

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	Valeriya Kozlova, Volleyball The freshman from Moscow, Russia became the programs first AVCA National Freshman of the Year, as well as sweeping the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. In her first season, she had 475 kills, 4.66 kills/set, .351 hitting percentage, 40 service aces, 14 block solos, 59 block assists,73 blocks, 558.5 points and 5.48 points per set in 29 matches played. In the regular season, she finished in the top-10 in the nation in points per set (5.44, 4th) and kills per set (4.63, 7th), while leading the conference in points per set and hitting percentage (0.345).
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	Jacob Strnisa, Volleyball Jacob Strnisa, a junior from Clinton, Pa., took the jump to The Shores from NCAA Division I Saint Francis, to compete in the men's volleyball second year as a program. The outside hitter came in and made an immediate impact on the offense for the Bucs. He set two new single season program records with 29 service aces and 280 kills, which is over 100 more from the original record. He was also a top hitter in the country all season long with a 3.84 kills per set average and earning 4.60 points per set. Strnisa earned All-IVA First-Team honors and was named the IVA Offensive Player of the Week twice.

Most Improved Athlete

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	Mya Tucker, Softball The sophomore from Lake Elsinore, Calif., went from a .287 hitter. with 40 runs and 16 RBI to a .421 hitter with 47 runs and 33 RBI for the softball team. Her OPS increased from .701 to 1.095 and she stole 28 bases compared to 11 as a freshman.
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	Ardens Homidas, Cross Country The sophomore from Dade City, Fla., improved across the board this season, shaving 1:14 off his 5K time, 3:18 off his 6K and 4:02 off his 8K. He moved up 10 spots at the Sunshine State Conference meet.

Best Individual Performance

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	Leonie Sinnhuber, Golf, Individual Medal at Buccaneer Invitational A junior from Stratzing, Austria, Sinnhuber captured her first tournament title shooting 68-68-72--208 (-5) on the par-71 course at Miami Shores Country Club. She led the team in Par-3, Par-4 and Par-5 scoring and the 55-player field in Par-4 and Par-5. Her rounds of 68 on the first two rounds were tied for the second-lowest in the field. She shot 50 of 54 holes at par or better, which was best in the field.
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	Jack Ensell, Baseball, 14 Strikeouts in Six Innings Against Nova Southeastern The sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., twirled a gem for six innings, holding the Sharks to two hits and two walks while striking out 14. His strikeouts rank fourth all-time in Buccaneer history.

Career Achievement

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	Harper Bunn, Softball The senior from Brooksville, Fla., is the only three-time president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in school history. On the field, she has played in 193 games, starting 189 in right field, left field, and at catcher and designated player. She's batted .285 with 86 runs scored and 44 RBI, while stealing 31 bases. She set a school record with 97 walks, which ties her for seventh in conference history.
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	Adam Lynch, Tennis The senior from Jacksonville, Fla., became on of the most decorated men's tennis players in program history. He helped lead the team to the 2023 NCAA National Championship freshman, won the ITA South Region championship as a sophomore, became only the second Buccaneer in history to earn Barry's Athlete of the year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season as a junior and carried the Bucs to an ITA Indoor title this year.

Best Play

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	Kornelia Ignerska, Basketball, Buzzer-beater against Rollins The sophomore from Poznan, Poland hit a 30-foot buzzer beater against Rollins at the end of the third quarter on Jan. 3 to lead Barry to a 62-48 win.
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	Anthony Amoroso III, Golf, Albatross on 5th hole, 2nd Round, Battle At The Lakes The junior from Miami, Fla., holed out on his second shot from 214 yards on the fifth hole of the second round to record one of the few albatrosses in program history.

Best Game

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	Women's Tennis Comes Back To Win Ninth National Championship The Bucs rallied from 1-0 and 3-2 down against defending champs, Nova Southeastern, to capture an NCAA-record ninth national title in Altamonte Springs, Fla., last May.
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	Men's Basketball Rallies Past Tampa In SSC Quarterfinals Men's basketball, picked eighth in the preseason poll, finished fourth in the regular season, earning a home game in the quarterfinals of the SSC Tournament. They faced fifth-seed Tampa, who had beaten the Bucs 98083 on Cesar Odio Court just three weeks prior. Trailing by eight at the half, the Bucs rallied in the second half, behind 19 points and 11 rebounds in the period from junior forward Marko Šarenac.

Iron Bucs

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	Thalia Iglesias, Volleyball Junior from Miami, Fla.
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	Novak Perovic, Basketball Senior from Belgrade, Serbia