TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — After beating their in-state rival the day before, along with tying for their highest-ranked victory over an ACC opponent in program history, the Seminoles couldn't find the same magic today against a motivated Hurricanes team that was celebrating senior day.
A fine performance by redshirt sophomore setter Lily Tessier wasn't enough for the Florida State volleyball team as it dropped its match to 11th-ranked Miami in straight sets on Friday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex.
“Good effort and the players never quit. But we just didn't execute as well today,” FSU Head Coach Chris Poole said. “It is really tough to play a good team on the road in back to back days and our offense just didn't get in a rhythm. We need to put in the work this week and finish our fall with finally getting some matches at home.”
Tessier recorded the fourth double-double of her career by putting up 10 digs and 10 assists in the match. She posted her season-high in digs and was four shy of matching her career-high total of 14 digs that she recorded last season vs. UCF.
Her performance marked FSU’s noticeable improvement in its passing game this weekend.
Senior Jasmyn Martin collected several kills for the Noles, leading the team with 10 in 33 total attacks. Redshirt sophomore Morgan Chacon also had a strong presence in this match with 29 total attacks, 13 digs, and five kills.
Miami's Elizavet Lukianova, 14 kills, and Savannah Ach, 42 assists were too much for the Seminoles to handle. The Hurricanes controlled the majority of the match by out-hitting FSU .258-.132, while also leading the match in total attacks,124-121, and digs, 46-34.
The first set of the match went back and forth, as no lead was larger than three points by either team until Miami took the lead at 23-19. Chacon tried to bring the Noles back with a kill late in the set, but a pair of kills by Janet Kalaniuvalu pushed Miami to take the first set at 25-20.
Florida State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second set, as Chacon had an early service ace, but Miami responded with four straight points, which included back-to-back service aces by Priscilla Hernandez. Miami maintained the lead later on in the set, but three straights errors from the Hurricanes and a kill from Martin brought the Noles back to tie the set at 11-11.
The Seminoles were down by three points late in the set after Miami rumbled off two separate runs of four straight points. FSU rallied back, putting the score at 24-24, but a kill by Kalaniuvalu and a net violation by the Noles gave the Hurricanes the set win at 26-24.
Much like the second set, Florida State took an early 4-2 lead in the third, but Miami rattled off five points behind four kills to go up 7-4. Miami maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third set until the Noles scored four straight points to cut the lead for the Hurricanes at 18-15.
A pair of kills by the Seminoles sparked a comeback opportunity late in the set, but four straight points, including a game-ending service ace by Angela Grieve, finished off the set and the match for the Hurricanes.
FSU will look to bounce back in Tallahassee for its first home slate of the season as it faces Wake Forest on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. at Tully Gym.
