Florida State has yet to play a home volleyball match during the 2016 season, but that\’s about to change and in a big way.
Eight of Florida State\’s next nine matches will come at Tully Gymnasium, beginning on Thursday with a contest against Baylor. The Seminoles should have positive momentum heading into a heavy home slate after a strong showing in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Playing three matches in three days, the Seminoles finished 2-1 during their trip to Puerto Rico. The stretch started on Thursday with a thrilling victory over No. 14 Texas A&M. After dropping the first two sets, FSU won the final three to take the match, 18-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-8.
Milicia Kubura and Christina Ambrose each led the Seminoles with 13 kills while Cecilie Woie recorded a team-high 14 digs in the victory. Kiara McGee had 21 kills to lead the Aggies while Texas A&M\’s Amy Nettles recorded a match-high 17 digs.
On Friday night, the Seminoles put on their rally caps once again, taking the final two sets in San Juan to defeat Alabama in five sets, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 15-12.
Katie Horton finished with a team-high 20 kills with Kubura adding 19. Woie led the team in digs with 15. For Alabama, Krystal Rivers finished with a match-high 29 kills and the Crimson Tide\’s Natalie Murison equaled Woie with a match-high 15 digs.
Against sixth-ranked Minnesota on Saturday, Florida State was unable to rally, but did manage to take a set after dropping a heartbreaker in the second. The Golden Gophers took the match, 25-14, 26-24, 21-25, 25-12.
Hannah Tapp and Sarah Wilhite each recorded 18 kills to lead Minnesota. Dalianliz Rosado added 16 digs for Minnesota. Kurbura led the Seminoles with 15 kills while Woie led the Seminoles in digs for a fourth straight match with 16.
For the season, FSU sits at 3-1. Florida State now turns its attention to the Tallahassee Seminole Tournament where it\’ll host Baylor on Friday and then both Florida A&M and Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday. The Seminoles will leave Tallahassee just once before October and that comes on Sept. 14 when FSU travels to Baton Rogue to take on LSU.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Perrone Ford/FSU athletics
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