Florida State University Athletics
Durish, Koenig Spearhead Noles' 5-0 Start
2/24/2025 1:14:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG – It is a silly little dance, a comical celebration in which Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig, following an ace, pretend, as if they are battle droids – Droidekas, to be specific – out of Star Wars, to shoot laser pistols back and forth. They laugh, the team laughs, even the coaches, Nick Lucena and Brooke Niles, get a good kick out of it.
But that little Star Wars jig is far more than a source of levity for the Florida State beach volleyball team and its top pair; it is, rather, a reliable barometer of how that particular match is going.
On Friday afternoon at Southern Mississippi's Beach Burg Invitational, in which No. 6 Florida State was playing No. 8 LSU, it was a welcome sight for Seminoles fans.
Tied at two wins apiece, the duel between the 'Noles and the Tigers came down to a third set on court one between Koenig and Durish and LSU's Parker Bracken and Gabi Bailey. After a pair of side-outs, Koenig ripped off three straight aces, prompting three straight Star Wars celebrations, cracking open a 4-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish, holding off a plucky pair from LSU to win, 21-19, 18-21, 15-11, sealing up the victory for Florida State.
"Alexis was the one who showed me Star Wars, and we both love those droids," Koenig said. And they both love aces, hence the celebration.
"We figured it was fitting," Durish deadpanned.
That it came down to a final court against a typically stout LSU team is not particularly surprising. This year's Florida State team is the youngest in Niles' 10 years at the helm. In the season-opener on Friday morning, against North Alabama, a 4-1 win for the Seminoles, five freshmen – Gella Andrew, Myriah Massey, Bailey Higgins, Jordan Boulware, and Kenzie Hultquist – filled out the starting lineup. Against LSU, four freshmen started, with junior Makenna Flaherty subbing in for Boulware. Later that evening, against Spring Hill, another two freshmen, Skylar Skrabanek and Kyleene Filimaua, made their debut, while Boulware was subbed back in for Flaherty.
"By far," Niles said when asked if this is the most youth she's had in a lineup, with a whopping seven rookies logging wins on the weekend. "We've always had freshmen playing, we always have good enough recruits that we have freshmen playing, but we usually have majority upperclassmen. This year we have majority freshmen. I feel like it's a lot like my first year, because I didn't know what to expect. I'm enjoying it."
It was easy to enjoy this weekend, the first of the 2025 season. Florida State finished 5-0, logging wins over North Alabama (4-1), LSU (3-2), Spring Hill (5-0), Florida Gulf Coast (5-0), and Southern Mississippi (4-1). Freshmen finished a combined 19-4 on the weekend, with seven notching the first wins of their respective careers.
"I think overall it was great to see our teams working on a lot of things we've been doing in the off-season," Niles said. "We really competed hard and it was tough with the cold weather. It was good to see them push through some adversity. A lot of players also got their first collegiate wins which was fun. We have a great base to build on the rest of the year."
The rest of the year begins next weekend, when Florida State hosts Georgia State, Houston Christian, and Cal State Bakersfield for its home opener.
But that little Star Wars jig is far more than a source of levity for the Florida State beach volleyball team and its top pair; it is, rather, a reliable barometer of how that particular match is going.
On Friday afternoon at Southern Mississippi's Beach Burg Invitational, in which No. 6 Florida State was playing No. 8 LSU, it was a welcome sight for Seminoles fans.
Tied at two wins apiece, the duel between the 'Noles and the Tigers came down to a third set on court one between Koenig and Durish and LSU's Parker Bracken and Gabi Bailey. After a pair of side-outs, Koenig ripped off three straight aces, prompting three straight Star Wars celebrations, cracking open a 4-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish, holding off a plucky pair from LSU to win, 21-19, 18-21, 15-11, sealing up the victory for Florida State.
"Alexis was the one who showed me Star Wars, and we both love those droids," Koenig said. And they both love aces, hence the celebration.
"We figured it was fitting," Durish deadpanned.
That it came down to a final court against a typically stout LSU team is not particularly surprising. This year's Florida State team is the youngest in Niles' 10 years at the helm. In the season-opener on Friday morning, against North Alabama, a 4-1 win for the Seminoles, five freshmen – Gella Andrew, Myriah Massey, Bailey Higgins, Jordan Boulware, and Kenzie Hultquist – filled out the starting lineup. Against LSU, four freshmen started, with junior Makenna Flaherty subbing in for Boulware. Later that evening, against Spring Hill, another two freshmen, Skylar Skrabanek and Kyleene Filimaua, made their debut, while Boulware was subbed back in for Flaherty.
"By far," Niles said when asked if this is the most youth she's had in a lineup, with a whopping seven rookies logging wins on the weekend. "We've always had freshmen playing, we always have good enough recruits that we have freshmen playing, but we usually have majority upperclassmen. This year we have majority freshmen. I feel like it's a lot like my first year, because I didn't know what to expect. I'm enjoying it."
It was easy to enjoy this weekend, the first of the 2025 season. Florida State finished 5-0, logging wins over North Alabama (4-1), LSU (3-2), Spring Hill (5-0), Florida Gulf Coast (5-0), and Southern Mississippi (4-1). Freshmen finished a combined 19-4 on the weekend, with seven notching the first wins of their respective careers.
"I think overall it was great to see our teams working on a lot of things we've been doing in the off-season," Niles said. "We really competed hard and it was tough with the cold weather. It was good to see them push through some adversity. A lot of players also got their first collegiate wins which was fun. We have a great base to build on the rest of the year."
The rest of the year begins next weekend, when Florida State hosts Georgia State, Houston Christian, and Cal State Bakersfield for its home opener.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
INSIDE SEMINOLES EPISODE: 14 | Fall Sports, New Facilities
Thursday, October 02
DB Earl Little Jr.: “Crazy physical game”
Wednesday, October 01
HC Mike Norvell: “It’s going to be emotional”
Wednesday, October 01
WR Duce Robinson: “This is why you come to Florida State”
Tuesday, September 30