TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In the first-ever matchup between these two teams, the Florida State Seminoles (6-1) defeated the Austin Peay Governors (2-3) in four sets (25-12, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18) on Saturday evening at Tully Gym. The Noles’ 6-1 record to begin the year is their best since 2017 and their fourth straight win at home. Audrey Koenig, Khori Louis and Emily Ryan were each named to the Seminole Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament Team.
“It was a great weekend. I’m extremely proud of our entire team but especially for Audrey, Khori and Emily who led the way with their performances. It was a great team effort, but now we have to take it on the road to Omaha,” Associate Head Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said.
The Noles took zero time to get things going as they started the first set with five straight points, forcing the Governors to take an early timeout. Florida State wouldn’t look back, leading by as many as thirteen points and taking the set 25-12. The depth of the Seminoles was on display as eight different players recorded kills en route to a monstrous .520 hitting percentage. The Noles’ defense was equally stellar, holding the Governors to a minuscule -.115 hitting percentage.
The second set was a different story as Austin Peay jumped out to an 8-4 advantage due in part to FSU’s three consecutive attack errors. The Noles’ first lead of the set didn’t come until 15-14 and they couldn’t pull away as both teams went back and forth. The Governors fought back as they claimed a 19-18 lead and wouldn’t relinquish it, winning the set 25-23.
The Noles rebounded in the third set, taking an early 13-6 lead. Austin Peay got the deficit down to three on a few occasions, but the Seminoles kept the pressure on and emerged with a 25-17 victory. FSU’s hitting attack was on point once again as they posted a .433 hitting percentage for the set.
Austin Peay held the lead early in the fourth set, but FSU mounted a comeback thanks to a 5-0 run that gave them a 9-6 advantage. The Governors refused to go away once again, tying things up at 15. The Noles maintained their composure though, winning the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.
The quartet of Emma Clothier, Audrey Koenig, Audrey Rothman, and Emily Ryan accounted for 42 of FSU’s 56 kills, led by Koenig and Ryan who had 11 each. The Noles recorded a solid .369 hitting percentage while holding the Governors to .152. Lauryn Burrows led the team with 12 digs while Rothman added ten as…