GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Executing well in several stretches, and even earning a pair of set points in set two, it was not enough for the Seminoles as No. 23 Florida State (5-3) was swept by No. 11 Florida (6-2) on Tuesday night by the score of 25-21, 27-25, 25-14.
“I was really disappointed tonight,” said FSU head coach Chris Poole. “I feel that in the first set, we did not come out aggressive at all. We still were able to hang around and did some nice things, but we were not being the aggressive team that we have been working on all year. We challenged them before the second set and they came out on fire and we were playing great. Though I think when we got up, it was almost like they began to coast and play not to lose, instead of finishing the set. And then after playing hard, and with the way Florida came back to win and go up 2-0, I think we just fell flat. I think the players were deflated after not getting that second set and being able to deal with adversity is another thing we need to learn.”
It was a close start to the first set and Florida State was able to tie it up at 5-5 on a block by Taryn Knuth and Jasmyn Martin. The Gators controlled most of the action after that, taking a five-point lead at 15-10. The Noles were able to get within one at 20-19 after kills from Payton Caffrey and Morgan Chacon, but Florida took the first set, 25-21.
The Seminoles were very clean offensively in the beginning of the second set, hitting .667 with six kills on nine attacks to stake an early 8-3 lead. FSU eventually led by as much as six at 11-5, behind kills by Martin and Caffrey, but Florida scored six of the next seven points to get within one at 12-11. The Gators took the lead at 17-16, and used an 8-0 run to lead 21-16, but an 8-2 run by the Seminoles, including both a block and a kill by Emma Clothier, gave FSU set point at 24-23. The Gators held off a pair of set points and eventually took set two by the score of 27-25.
Florida’s momentum continued into set three as the Gators scored the first five points of the set. UF extended the lead to 17-6, and eventually won the match with a 25-14 score in set three.
Caffrey led the team with 12 kills, while Knuth and Morgan Chacon tallied seven apiece. Lily Tessier had a team-high 16 assists, while Chacon and Madison Sullivan finished with 10 and eight digs, respectively.
The Seminoles will return home for their final non-conference match of the season on Friday, September 20. Florida State will host Alabama (8-1) in Tully Gym, in a match that will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra. Links for the video and live stats will be available on the volleyball schedule page on Seminoles.com.
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