TALLAHASSEE, Fl. — For the ninth time this season, and the fourth time in ACC play, the Seminoles have recorded a sweep as RV Florida State (12-5, 6-2 ACC) posted a 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 victory over Syracuse (5-10, 2-6 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at Tully Gym.
The Noles shined defensively as they tallied 13 blocks in the win, marking the 10th time in 17 matches this season that FSU has had double-digit blocks, including six that have come in three-set matches.
Junior Taryn Knuth was dominant for the Seminoles, both on the block and the attack, as the middle blocker recorded a season-high 10 blocks on Sunday, which is tied for seventh-most in the NCAA this season in a three-set match. Knuth also was error-free on 10 attacks, as she finished with six kills and a .600 hitting percentage.
“We continued to be more comfortable today, after a difficult week of getting everyone healthy,” said FSU head coach Chris Poole. “We played a very clean match and I was pleased with the way we closed out the weekend. Executing our blocks was important this afternoon and put the pressure on Syracuse. We were able to have most of our players contribute offensively for us today as well, which gives us a lot of versatility when we are able to use all of our hitters.”
Florida State started the first set strong, taking an 8-5 lead after kills by Jasmyn Martin and Payton Caffrey, along with service aces by Adrian Ell and Morgan Chacon. The Seminoles maintained their lead throughout the set, including a pair of blocks involving Knuth, but Syracuse managed to tie the set at 22-22 with a service ace. Another block from Knuth and Marissa Stockman and a kill by Caffrey gave the Noles set point and a Syracuse service error gave FSU the first set at 25-23.
The Orange jumped out to an 8-2 lead to begin the second set, but the Seminoles rallied to tie the set at 10-10 after multiple kills by Caffrey, Chacon and Knuth. The Seminoles took the lead at 14-13 on a block by Knuth and Martin, and additional blocks from Knuth, Stockman and Chacon helped FSU grow the lead to 20-15. Florida State carried that momentum to a 25-18 set win, capped by an assisted block from Martin and Emma Clothier.
Syracuse opened the third set with an early 7-4 lead and Florida State quickly came back to take a 9-8 lead after a kill by Clothier. The Orange went back in front and led by as much as three at 14-11, before the Seminoles went on a 7-1 run, including kills by Martin and Chacon, along with blocks by Knuth, Stockman and Martin to make it 18-15. Syracuse rallied to tie the set at 19-19, but the Seminoles scored six of the last eight points, including back-to-back blocks by Caffrey and Clothier, to complete the sweep with a 25-21 win in the third.
Overall, the Noles were led offensively by Caffrey with 15 kills, while Martin hit at a .500 clip on nine kills and just one error. Lily Tessier and Ell each finished with 15 assists, while Stockman tied a career high with six blocks on the afternoon.
The Seminoles will continue ACC play next weekend with a pair of road matches at Georgia Tech and Clemson on October 25 and 27. Links for the broadcasts and live stats will be available on the volleyball schedule page on Seminoles.com.
