Duke Drops Five-Setter at Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Duke volleyball team came up short Sunday at Florida State, falling to the Seminoles 3-2 (18-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 8-15) at Tully Gymnasium. 

Duke fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force the decisive fifth set but couldn’t complete the comeback. 

Both teams featured three players with double-digit kills as Duke’s Gracie Johnson led all scorers with a season-high 25 kills. She hit .429 percent for the match, committing just four errors on 49 swings.

Kerry Keefe and Jess Robinson each tallied 12 kills alongside Johnson, while setter Emma Worthington dished 53 assists, just one shy of her career high. Libero Madison Bryant led the defensive charge with 17 digs, while Robinson added three blocks, including two solo. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Duke fell behind 1-0 early as Florida State hit .347 percent in the opening set. The Blue Devils trailed 22-12 and attempted to rally, winning six of the final nine points, but couldn’t close it out. 
• Duke carried its late momentum from the first set into the second and posted a .353 hitting percentage. Florida State’s Audrey Rothman led the offense with six kills to hit .667 percent. 
• Duke responded, taking the third set, 25-23. Keefe hit .455 with five kills while Johnson added seven to Robinson’s four. Neither team settled into their defense with zero blocks on both sides. 
• With the match on the line and looking to force a fifth set, Duke led 23-20 as Johnson tallied her 20th kill of the match. Fleming and Keefe put up…