Column: FSU Volleyball is Quietly Becoming One of the Feel-Good Stories of the Fall
It’s certainly an exciting time for Florida State fans. On the gridiron, the Seminoles are a perfect 5-0 and have been ranked in the top five for most of the season while on the pitch, FSU soccer just claimed the top spot in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
One of the under-the-radar teams in Tallahassee this fall, however, has been Florida State volleyball. After a disappointing non-conference slate, FSU has quietly come to life since the beginning of the ACC schedule.
A Disappointing Stretch
For FSU, the 2023 season has been something of a Jekyll and Hyde campaign. Things couldn’t have started better as the Seminoles opened the year with three wins in three days — all in straight sets in Athens, Ga. — which included a victory over host Georgia.
From there, however, the wheels seemed to be coming off. FSU dropped six of its next eight matches, including three in straight sets. The most heartbreaking defeat of that stretch came at home in a 3-2 loss to then No. 3 Florida.
At 5-6, FSU looked destined for a disappointing season. The Seminoles closed non-conference play with a sweep of North Florida — not unexpected. More than three weeks later, FSU is one of just two teams still undefeated in ACC play.
Winners of seven straight, the resiliency of head coach Chris Poole’s team has been evident. In four of FSU’s six ACC wins, it has needed the full five sets to get the job done.
The Turnaround Begins
Things seemed to turn following the ACC opener against then 10-1 Virginia Tech on Sept. 22. Down 2-1, FSU was on life support late in the fourth set as it was on the short end of a 22-20 score. FSU proceeded to close the set on a 5-1 run with a kill from Sydney Conley and a Virginia Tech attack error ending it.
In the fifth, FSU trailed 11-9 and later 17-16 before scoring three straight points to take the set and the match. FSU followed that up with sweeps of Wake Forest and North Carolina, but since then, have been forced to dig (no pun intended) deep.
Against Duke on Oct. 1, the Seminoles took the first two sets before watching the Blue Devils rally to force a decisive fifth. Kiari Robey took over with four kills in the final set as the Seminoles rolled, 15-8.
In each of the last two matches, FSU has been on life support, trailing 2-1 through three sets. In each, the Seminoles rallied to win the final two sets to take the match.
Last Wednesday at rival Miami, FSU boasted a remarkable .512 attack percentage over the final two sets. The Seminoles rolled past the Hurricanes in the fourth and fifth sets, 25-20 and 15-6, respectively.
At home on Sunday, FSU found itself trailing NC State 15-13 in the fourth set before seizing control with four straight kills from Robey and Audrey Rothman. In the fifth, it was the Audrey Koenig show as the now 2-time reigning ACC Offensive Player of the Week tallied four kills as the Seminoles closed things out with a 15-10 set victory.
Keeping the Momentum
Now 12-6 overall and 6-0 in ACC play, Koenig, Robery, Rothman and Khori Louis have formed a formidable front line for FSU. Well-traveled senior Andjelija Draskovic is averaging a team-best 5.52 assists per set and has brought leadership from the setter position.
Despite the rough start which included losses to SMU, UCF and Hawaii, FSU is 6-0 in ACC play for the first time 2015 and just the fourth time in its 33 years as a member of the conference. Rather than rolling over after a disappointing start with losses to lackluster competition, the Seminoles have risen to the occasion and are in position to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in 15 years.
FSU will have its toughest ACC test of the season so far on Friday as it travels to Atlanta to take on No. 11 Georgia Tech. With Pittsburgh and Louisville also on the schedule in the coming weeks, things won’t get easier for the Seminoles. If they’ve proven one thing through 18 matches, however, it’s that they can’t be counted out.
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
