PBSC volleyball star earns full scholarship to Missouri State University

Ana Paula Fallas Cruz began playing volleyball when she was only 10 years old, after her mother, a volleyball coach, introduced her to the sport. As her passion for volleyball grew, Fallas Cruz knew she wanted to continue playing beyond high school. She was recruited by PBSC in Fall 2022 and since then she’s led the team to countless victories, all while maintaining a 3.95 GPA.

Fallas Cruz, originally from Costa Rica, graduated with an Associate in Arts degree. She first learned about PBSC through AMS Scholarships, an agency that helps student athletes secure sports scholarships in the U.S. She was drawn to PBSC because of the College’s strong academics and supportive athletic department.

“I wanted to play volleyball at a higher level which Palm Beach State offered me,” Fallas Cruz said. “What set PBSC apart is how welcomed and helped I felt. Everyone made me feel like I was not alone in this process.”

While on the Lady Panthers Beach Volleyball team, Fallas Cruz has earned numerous accolades. She is especially proud of winning back-to-back NJCAA Beach Volleyball National Championships (22-23, 23-24), being named First Team All-American twice (22-23, 23-24), winning NJCAA National Player of the Year (2024) and winning FCSAA Beach Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2024).

Her achievements caught the attention of several NCAA Division I universities. Fallas Cruz has chosen Missouri State University, where she will attend in the spring on a full scholarship. She will continue her athletic career while pursuing a major in interior design. Her ultimate goal is to play professional volleyball and, eventually, open her own interior design business.

Fallas Cruz’s decision to attend Missouri State University reflects her hard work and dedication. Achieving this success wasn’t easy, as she had to balance classes, volleyball practice, and a work-study job. She attended volleyball practice five days a week, with each session lasting two hours. In addition, she worked in the athletic department, setting up courts for other sports events and assisting with office tasks.

To stay on top of her coursework and maintain her high GPA, she spent her free time studying in the library. Outside of her academic and athletic commitments, she was active in the community, helping the West Palm Beach Police Department with public service events and outreach programs.

“When it was time to go practice after a long day, it wasn’t a challenge, rather it was an escape. I liked it so much, so it was like my reward after all that hard work,” Fallas Cruz said.

Fallas Cruz is grateful to PBSC for opening doors to new opportunities and supporting her during this new transition. She also thanks her coach, Drew Colvin, and the athletic department for helping her grow as a person, adapt to new challenges and push herself to work harder than ever before.

“I can attest firsthand what an outstanding individual Ana is both on and off the court. She competed with an energy and passion that was infectious, consistently pushing herself and her teammates to achieve excellence,” said John Scarpino, Director of Athletics. “You would expect no less from a two-time First-team All American and winner of back-to-back National Championships.”