What to Watch For Wednesday: FSU Tennis Teams Have Revenge on the Mind

Only three days remain until the calendar flips to February and Florida State sports seems to be in a full swing.

The Seminoles’ top-5 men’s basketball team saw their 10-game winning streak end at reigning national champion Virginia on Tuesday night, but there are other FSU program who have yet to have a blemish on the young season. That could change this week, however.

Upcoming this week will be interesting early-season tennis matches. Both FSU’s men’s and women’s tennis teams will have a chance to get some revenge as both face the teams that ended their 2019 seasons in Lake Nona.

1. FSU men’s tennis takes on Florida
For just the fourth time head-to-head in a men’s sport this athletic year, Florida State and Florida will square off. The rivals will do battle on the tennis court on Saturday in Lake Nona in what will be a top-25 match-up. After a 6-0 start, No. 21 FSU suffered its first loss on Sunday to reigning national champion Texas for ITA Kick-Off Weekend.

The Seminoles so far this season have been led by Sebastian Arcila and Rana Roop Bhullar, who are a combined 23-11. Also at 6-1, Florida’s lone loss also came to Texas. Andy Andrade and Duarte Vale each have 18 wins for Florida on the young season. The teams met twice last season with the Gators taking both meetings. After beating FSU in Lake Nona last year, 4-1, the Gators ultimately ended the Seminoles’ season with a 4-0 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville.

2. FSU women’s tennis faces UCF in Lake Nona
Before FSU and Florida do battle on Saturday in men’s tennis in Lake Nona, the Florida State women will put their perfect record on the line on Friday at the same location against UCF in a top-15 showdown. After beating UC-Santa Barbara and Texas A&M at home during ITA Kick-Off Weekend, FSU is 4-0 and ranked in the top 15. FSU saw its season end last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 loss at home to UCF. FSU won 5-2 during the regular season last year and had been 10-0 all-time against the Knights.

To this point in the young season, Nandini Das and Andrea Garcia have combined for 22 singles wins for No. 14. No. 12 UCF is off to a 2-1 start with a loss at Michigan on Sunday. Evgeniya Levashova, Marie Mattel and Domenika Turkovic are all undefeated in singles matches this season. FSU already has two wins over ranked opponents this season with victories over Washington and Texas A&M.

3. FSU hoops looks to bounce back vs. Virginia Tech, UNC
Virginia closed Tuesday night’s contest in Charlottesville on an 8-0 run to hand FSU hoops its first loss in 11 games, but the Seminoles will have an opportunity to get back in the win column with two games in three days. After wrapping up a 2-game trip to the Commonwealth State on Saturday against Virginia Tech, FSU returns home Monday to take on North Carolina. Both the Hokies and Tar Heels are desperate for a signature win and beating the Seminoles would be just that.

Saturday’s contest with the Hokies begins at 4 p.m. EST and airs on ACC Network Extra. FSU won both match-ups a season ago in overtime with the wins coming on Senior Day and in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. At 14-7 overall and 5-5 in conference, Virginia Tech is working with a new-look roster led by freshman Landers Nolley, who averages nearly 18 points per game. Guards Devin Vassell, Trent Forrest and M.J. Walker all average in double-figures for the Seminoles. For the season, FSU is 17-3 and 7-2 in conference.

After taking on the Hokies, FSU returns home to take on perhaps the biggest disappointment in the ACC in North Carolina. The Tar Heels are just 10-10 for the season and 3-6 in ACC play, but have won two straight. With Cole Anthony on the shelf, North Carolina has relied heavily on forward Garrison Brooks, who averages nearly 16 points and better than nine rebounds per game. North Carolina got the better of FSU in Chapel Hill last season, but did lose in its last trip to Tallahassee two years ago. Monday’s contest begins at 7 p.m. EST and airs on ESPN.

4. FSU women host Boston College, visit Pittsburgh
The Florida State men won’t be the only hoops team playing two games in three days this week. Fresh off consecutive wins, the FSU women will host Boston College on Thursday night before making the long trip to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers on Saturday. The Seminoles are coming off a nice 79-61 win over Miami. FSU has a talented trio in forward Kiah Gillespie and guards Nausia Woolfolk and Nicki Ekhomu. The FSU women are also 17-3 on the season, but all three defeats have come in ACC play.

Boston College is 10-9 for the season and 3-5 in ACC play, but all three conference wins have come on the road. The Eagles are led by Taylor Soule and Emma Guy, who each average better than 12 points and six rebounds per game. Thursday’s contest begins at 7 p.m. EST and streams on ACC Network Extra. On Saturday, FSU goes to Pittsburgh. The Panthers are 3-16 overall and 0-8 against the ACC. Senior guard Aysia Bugg averages a team-high 12.7 points per game. Saturday’s contest begins at 5 p.m. EST and also streams on ACC Network Extra.

5. Former Noles participate in Super Bowl LIV
As most of the world watches on Sunday evening, two former Florida State football players will take part in Super Bowl LIV. Tackle Cameron Erving and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi will each try to help the Kansas City Chiefs knock off the San Francisco 49ers for the franchise’s first world championship in 50 years. A 2-time All-American at FSU from 2010 to 2014, Erving started eight games for the Chiefs this season. Nnadi played at FSU from 2014 to 2017 and was a 3-time All-ACC player. In his second season in the NFL, Nnadi started all 16 games for the Chiefs, recording 30 tackles, three for loss and one sack. Sunday’s game begins at 6:30 p.m. EST in Miami and airs on FOX.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.