Just more than a week remains in February. Before this week is over, all Florida State sports for the athletic year will have either started or been completed.
As is our hump-day tradition, we tell you what to watch for over the next week in FSU athletics:
1. FSU swimming and diving kicks off ACC Championships
From Wednesday through Friday, the Florida State women’s swimming and diving team will participate in the ACC Championships in Greensboro. The FSU women finished in sixth place at last year’s ACC Championships and will look to build off that performance. The Seminoles didn’t have any individual champions last season, but Nina Kucheran finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke and has a real opportunity to take the title this year. In the 3-meter diving, the same is true for senior Molly Carlson. Carlson finished third last year.
2. No. 1 faces No. 2 in women’s tennis
The top two women’s tennis teams in the country, according to the ITA rankings, will square off in Tallahassee on Friday as No. 2 Florida State plays host to No. 1 North Carolina. The Seminoles will come in with a record of 10-1, which includes victories over five ranked opponents. North Carolina is a perfect 12-0. Nandini Das has been the top player for FSU this season with a singles record of 17-4. Alexa Graham, Sara Daavettila and Cameron Morra are a combined 52-7 this season for the Tar Heels.
3. FSU beach volleyball opens season
After reaching the NCAA Championships in each of the past four seasons, Florida State beach volleyball kicks things off on Friday with the Seminole Beach Bash in Tallahassee. FSU will play seven matches in three days. The Seminoles face Louisiana-Monroe and Houston Baptist on Friday, then TCU and Stetson on Saturday. On Sunday, FSU hosts Cal Poly, South Carolina and Tampa. FSU finished 29-7 last season. Alaina Chacon, Madison Fitzpatrick, Molly McBain, Sara Putt and Kate Privett were all preseason All-CCSA.
4. FSU hoops visits NC State, hosts Louisville
ACC Tournament seeding will be on the line this week as Florida State basketball plays two games in three days. The Seminoles will visit NC State on Saturday before hosting Louisville on Monday in what could be a top-10 match-up. FSU improved to 22-4 and 12-3 in ACC play on Tuesday night with an 82-67 win over Pittsburgh. The Seminoles will face an NC State team that is 16-9 for the season, 7-7 in conference and desperate for a signature win. The Wolfpack have four players averaging between 12 and 14 points, led by guards C.J. Bryce and Markell Johnson. D.J. Funderburk led NC State with 18 points and nine rebounds in last season’s loss. With a win, FSU would clinch a double-bye in the ACC Tournament. Saturday’s contest in Raleigh begins at 4 p.m. EST and airs on ACC Network.
On Monday, FSU will go for the season sweep of Louisville. The Seminoles blasted Louisville 78-65 when the teams met in early-January at the KFC Yum! Center. M.J. Walker went off for 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting for FSU. Louisville’s Jordan Nwora, who ranks second in the ACC in scoring at more than 18 points per game, scored 32 points in the loss, but got little help. FSU’s top two scorers, Trent Forrest and Devin Vassell, had solid efforts in the first meeting. The teams square off Monday at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN.
5. FSU baseball hosts Cincinnati
Florida State will come in winners of three straight as it welcomes Cincinnati to Dick Howser Stadium for three games, beginning on Friday night. Since falling in the season opener, FSU has plated 39 runs in three games. Catcher Matheu Nelson leads the team with six RBIs, which includes a 3-run home run to break a tie in Tuesday’s 7-3 win over South Florida. Robby Martin, Carter Smith and Tyler Martin are all hitting over .300 and each have five RBIs. Elijah Cabell has scored a team-high seven runs.
The Bearcats are off to an 0-3 start with losses to Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. Senior Joey Bellini leads the team with a .455 average and six RBIs. Friday’s contest begins at 6 p.m. EST. Saturday’s contest begins at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale at 1 p.m. EST. All three games will stream on ACC Network Extra.
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.
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