Another athletic year for Florida State has come and gone. The Seminoles had six programs finish with a top-10 national ranking, including four on the women’s side.
Women’s sports also claimed three of the four conference titles won by FSU during the 2016-17 year. Unfortunately, the Seminoles were unable to claim a national championship.
Looking back however, it was another outstanding year for FSU athletics. As we continue to look back on the year that was, we hand out our superlatives for women’s sports:
Team of the Year: FSU Softball
Although Florida State softball was unable to make it back to the Women’s College World Series, the Seminoles tied a school-record with 55 wins and went a perfect 24-0 in conference play before sweeping through the ACC Tournament to win a fourth straight conference crown.
Jessie Warren was named ACC Player of the Year after a monstrous season while senior Jessica Burroughs took home ACC Pitcher of the Year honors for a second straight season. Head coach Lonni Alameda was named ACC Coach of the Year for a fifth straight year. In addition to Burroughs and Warren, four other players were named first-team All-ACC.
Athlete of the Year: Jessie Warren, FSU Softball
An All-American, Florida State’s Jessie Warren did little wrong en route to becoming the ACC’s Player of the Year and FSU’s all-time leader in home runs. During the 2017 season, Warren led FSU with a .413 average, 23 home runs and 68 RBIs.
To add to that already impressive resume’, Warren was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year as well for her performance at third base. Warren also led the Seminoles with a .538 on-base percentage and struck out just 16 times in 223 plate appearances.
Freshman of the Year: Eleonora Omoregie, FSU Track and Field
A high jump participant, Eleonora Omoregie showed that Florida State has a very bright future on the track. Omoregie was a second-team All-American in the high jump and dominated ACC competition. Omoregie was both the ACC Indoor and Outdoor high jump champion.
Most Improved Athlete of the Year: Daniela Schippers, FSU Tennis
After fighting wrist and ankle injuries as a junior, FSU’s Daniela Schippers was the ITA Southeast Most Improved Player for the 2016-17 season. Schippers took 11 singles matches after winning just four as a junior and was 18-3 in doubles play. Schippers was instrumental in helping Florida State reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to Auburn, 4-2.
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Hyde, FSU Tennis
After missing the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years, Jennifer Hyde led an FSU team with just one senior back to the tournament. The Seminoles, despite being the lower seed, even advance by upsetting Arizona State in the first round. FSU finished the year 17-12 and 6-5 in ACC play. It was the first time since the 2010-11 season that the Seminoles finished with a winning record in conference.
Performance of the Year: Kellion Knibb, FSU Track and Field, ACC Championships
Though she didn’t beat her performance from the previous year, FSU senior discus thrower Kellion Knibb won a third ACC Championship in mid-May. Knibb’s throw of 59.76 meters was more than two and a half meters and nine feet further than second place finisher and teammate, Gleneve Grange.
Knibb had to settle for third at the NCAA Championships, but is among the greatest track and field athletes in FSU history. She leaves as a 3-time first-team All-American in the discus.
Contest of the Year: FSU Volleyball Upsets Florida in NCAA Tournament
An outstanding volleyball season for Florida State looked to be headed toward a bitter end on Dec. 3 and to its arch-rival. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville, the Seminoles were handled by Florida through two sets, losing 13-25 and 16-25.
With the season hanging in the balance, the contest turned around as the Seminoles were able to grind out 25-23 and 25-19 wins to force a decisive set. In the final set, FSU rallied from an 11-9 deficit to score six of the next seven points. Melanie Keil’s service ace ended the contest and Florida’s season.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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