San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The No. 4 Florida State Seminoles split day one of the Center of Effort Challenge, winning against No. 11 Long Beach State and losing to No. 2 USC.
FSU 4, No. 11 LBSU 1
The Noles got off to a hot start on court three. Jordan Polo and Anna Long made quick work in the first set, winning 21-14. The second set was closer but Polo and Long were able to hang on and win 21-18.
Caitlin Moon and Raelyn White won their first set 21-17. The pair then had a rocky start to the second set but pulled out a 21-19 win.
Carra Sassack and Audrey Koenig took court two to three sets. The pair won the first set 21-18, then dropped the second set 21-13. The third set was back-and-forth, but LBSU was able to pull out the 15-13 win, giving them their first dual point of the match.
Alexis Durish and Makenna Wolfe were also in a three-set fight on court five. The pair lost the first set 21-18, then took the second set to extra points before winning 22-20. The third set was all Wolfe and Durish, the pair won 15-7 and gave the Noles their third dual point of the match.
There was yet another three-set match on court one with Maddie Anderson and Paige Kalkhoff winning the first set 21-14, then dropping the second a close 21-18. The third set was where Anderson and Kalkhoff found their groove, winning 15-10.
FSU 2, No. 2 USC 3
Another rematch of the 2022 National Championship and it did not disappoint.
Caitlin Moon and Raelyn White continued their streak from the earlier matches, winning the first set 21-16. The pair stayed hot in the second set and won 21-17.
Carra Sassack and Audrey Koenig kept both sets close as the pair lost both sets 21-19.
Anna Long and Jordan Polo fought hard on court two. The pair lost the first set 21-17 and had a back and forth second set that ended with USC getting the win 21-19.
Maddie Anderson and Paige Kalkhoff had a rocky start to the first set losing 21-14. The pair battled back in the second set and there were multiple lead changes before USC took the win 21-18.
Makenna Wolfe and Alexis Durish took court five to three sets. In the first set USC came out hot and won 21-15. Wolfe and Durish recovered nicely and took the second set to extra points before winning 21-23. The third set was a close one, but Wolfe and Durish found their groove and won 15-11.
The Noles will take on No. 7 LMU at 3:45 p.m. ET tomorrow before being placed for their last match of the challenge based off the result of the LMU…