Florida State University Athletics
Volleyball Earns Come-From-Behind Win in Syracuse
10/14/2018 5:39:43 PM | Women's Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Florida State volleyball team (11-7, 7-1 ACC) saw its first come-from-behind win of the season on Sunday afternoon, as the team came back from an 0-2 deficit to take down Syracuse (10-6, 6-2 ACC) on the road in a battle for third place in the conference.
Sunday’s victory marked FSU’s first five-set win after losing the first two sets since the Seminoles took down No. 11 Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016. This comes just a week after Florida State earned its first victory after losing a set, when the team took down North Carolina in three sets at home.
“That was the best match we have played in two seasons,” said head coach Chris Poole. “This is what I have been expecting from our team. I think we showed a lot of heart and relentless pursuit to win the match and it paid off. It was great to see all of them battle and we all got stronger as the match was played.”
The match was highlighted by a stellar offensive performance by the Seminoles, as the team saw a season-high 72 kills and 179 attacks for a .291 hitting percentage. It was the first time this season FSU saw four players earn double-digit kills, while two players in the match (Caffrey and SU’s Shemanova) saw more than 20 kills each.
The Seminoles sit in third place in the ACC, behind undefeated Pitt and Louisville, who are both tied for first in the conference. FSU returns home next weekend to host Georgia Tech and Clemson, two teams sitting below .500 in the conference.
Set 1 – SU 25, FSU 23
The Orange took an early lead in the opening set, but Florida State was able to tie up the score five times before taking the lead at the 8-7 mark. The set continued to go back and forth as FSU tried to hold onto a lead over the Orange, but Syracuse was able to hold the edge over the Seminoles to close out the set.
Sophomore middle blocker Taryn Knuth led the Seminoles with five kills, earned on only six attacks without a single error for a .833 hitting percentage. Knuth also saw two blocks (one solo) in the opening set, while redshirt freshman Mariah Brim also picked up two blocks in the set.
Set 2 – SU 26, FSU 24
While the Seminoles used an increased offensive presence in the beginning of the second set, it wasn’t enough to hold off the Orange from maintaining the lead throughout the set. Syracuse’s 14 kills in the set propelled them to a larger lead over FSU than in the first set, but reduced errors on Florida State’s side of the net helped the Seminoles close the gap towards the end.
After holding the Orange at set point, Syracuse was able to pick up two back-to-back points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Senior setter Brianne Burkert led the set with four kills on five attacks (.800), and added on six assists and two digs.
Set 3 – FSU 25, SU 16
Florida State came out swinging after intermission to claim the first five points in the set, and the Seminoles were able to hold at least a two-point lead throughout the remainder of the set. Three blocks, all involving Knuth, held the Orange below .100 hitting throughout the set, while the Seminoles hit above .300 despite taking fewer swings on the ball than their opponent.
An increased offensive efficiency in the set helped the Seminoles hold the edge over the Orange, while three total blocks and 20 digs from FSU kept Syracuse behind. Caffrey found her groove in the third set, hitting .667 with six kills and no errors on nine attacks to lead both teams.
Set 4 – FSU 25, SU 18
Syracuse took the lead in the beginning of the fourth set, but Florida State was able to catch up to tie the set at 10-all, and then take their first lead at the 11-10 mark. After the Seminoles held the lead, SU was able to catch up twice but was never able to gain the lead.
FSU outhit Syracuse once again in the fourth set, putting down five more kills on five fewer attacks than the Orange saw in the set.
Set 5 – FSU 15, SU 12
The fifth set proved to be a close battle from the beginning, as the Seminoles took the first lead at 2-1, but from there the set saw five tie scores. Syracuse saw their only lead at the 4-3 mark, but FSU regained the lead and never gave it up after a kill from Knuth brought the score to 6-5 FSU.
The Seminoles hit .333 in the deciding set to outhit their opponent for the third straight set. The offense was led by Caffrey’s five kills (.273) and by a 1.000 hitting performance by Knuth, who put down three kills on three attacks.
Match Notes
- Florida State holds a perfect 8-0 record over Syracuse after Sunday’s victory.
- This was the first five-set decision in the series.
- Sunday’s match marked FSU’s first five-set victory of the season.
- This was FSU’s first time winning a match after losing the first two sets since the Seminoles beat No. 11 Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
- This marked the first time this season four Seminoles earned double-digit kills, as Caffrey (26), Knuth (14), Ambrose (11), and Murray (10) led FSU’s offensive effort.
- The Seminoles have earned double-digit blocks in five ACC matches this season and 10 matches overall.
- Senior setter Brianne Burkert recorded her 34th career double-double and fifth of the season with 30 assists and 12 digs.
- Redshirt freshman setter Adrian Ell recorded her third career double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs.
- Junior outside hitter Payton Caffrey’s 26 kills and 58 attacks were the second-most earned in a match this season, behind her own 27-kill and 62-attack outing at Colorado State (9/1/18).
- Ell’s 31 assists was the most earned in a match this season.
- Senior libero Kelsey Wicinski’s 21 digs was the most seen in a five-set match this season, and the second-most of any match this season, behind the 28-dig outing she saw at Boston College on Oct. 12.
- The team’s 72 kills, 179 attacks, and 70 assists were the most the Seminoles have seen in any match this season.
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