Gainesville, FL

This week's Alumni Spotlight is Soraya Nacero and Maria Contreras, who played Volleyball in 2023 and 2024!

Nacero played for Santa Fe during the 2023 Volleyball season, appearing in 25 matches as an Outside Hitter/Libero who totaled 168 Kills and 28 service aces. She also was a reliable defensive player for Santa Fe, leading the team with 254 digs while adding 17 block assists all year.

Additionally, Nacero was second on the team with 214.5 points scored. She spent the 2024 season as a redshirt for Santa Fe before continuing her playing career at New College of Florida.

Maria Contreras spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Santa Fe as a Setter. She totaled 19 matches with 149 assists, 34 blocks, 39 digs, and 22 kills in the 2023 season. In 2024, Contreras played in all 26 matches and totaled team best 707 assists. She was also the team leader in solo blocks (22), block assists (46), bringing her year long block total to 68.

Contreras signed to continue her volleyball career at Appalachian State University following the 2024 season.

Both Nacero and Contreras came to Santa Fe as international students, with Nacero coming from Caracas, Venezuela and Contreras reigning from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

The pair can be pictured above with current Athletic Director Chanda Stebbins as they had recently come back to Santa Fe over the holiday break to reconnect with their teammates, coaches, and the College.

Here is what Contreras had to say:

"What I loved most about Santa Fe were the connections with the people I was able to build there and the great time I spent with the people. I believe it was a very positive environment that helped me grow both personally and athletically. I am now about to begin practices at California Baptist University after playing one season with App State last semester. I felt Santa Fe prepared me both athletically and academically to get to where I am today because they supported me greatly during my transition to the United States. They helped me adapt to the country, improve my English, succeed academically, and the team became like a family to me that helped me grow as an athlete and as a person."