EL PASO – The UTEP volleyball program has bolstered its defensive unit with the addition of standout libero/defensive specialist Fuka Sekita, head coach Ben Wallis announced Wednesday. Sekita, a highly decorated junior college transfer from New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), will join the Miners in the fall of 2025.
Hailing from Nishinomiya, Japan, Sekita graduated from Mukogawa Women's University Senior High School in 2023 before embarking on a stellar career at NMMI. Over two seasons, she proved herself as one of the most dominant defensive players in junior college volleyball, competing in 243 sets across 69 matches and recording an impressive 1,297 digs, averaging 5.34 digs per set. She also contributed 191 assists and 65 service aces.
Sekita's list of accolades is extensive, reflecting both her athletic excellence and academic dedication. In the 2023-2024 season, she was named the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) Defensive Player of the Year and earned five WJCAC Player of the Week honors. She also claimed a spot on the NMMI Classic All-Tournament Team and was named Defensive MVP for Lady Bronco Volleyball.
Her success continued into the 2024-2025 season, where she was recognized as the NMMI Classic Libero of the Tournament, Odessa Invitational Libero of the Tournament, and U-First Intermountain Libero of the Tournament. She was an eight-time WJCAC Player of the Week, four-time NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week, and was ultimately honored as the WJCAC Conference Most Valuable Player. Nationally, she was named an NJCAA First Team All-American and an AVCA Second Team All-American.
Off the court, Sekita has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, earning spots on the Fall 2023 Commandant's List, the Spring 2023 AVCA + Team Academic Honor Roll, and the Fall 2024 Superintendent's List.
Head coach Ben Wallis echoed the excitement, stating, "We are jacked to get Fuka here in the Fall! We have had a long and successful relationship with NMMI athletes that goes back to 2020 when we recruited Hula Crisostomo, then Tori Price, and then Marian Ovalle, and they had great careers here. Fuka is going to be next in a long line of really good players that Shelby Forchtner produces from her program. She's highly competitive, crafty, is the ultimate volleyball nerd, which is a great compliment and is a smooth operator. She can pass equally as well as she digs, and I think her qualities will help this veteran team right away. When she came on her visit, all our players loved her, and her personality is infectious. I know that El Paso will love her quickly as well. She's going to be a great addition to our Miner volleyball family."
Sekita will bring her elite defensive skills and championship experience to UTEP, further strengthening the Miners' backcourt as they aim for continued success in the upcoming seasons.
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