Manhattan Beach, Calif. – The Florida State Seminoles split the first day of the East to West Tournament, winning against No. 8 Hawaii 4-1 and losing to No. 3 USC 3-2.
FSU 4, No. 8 Hawaii 1
Court four got the action started for the Noles with a quick three-set dual. Raelyn White and Caitlin Moon dropped the first set a close 21-19, but came out swinging in the second set winning 21-14. In the third set Moon and White played well defensively and got the 15-10 win giving the Noles their first dual point.
Anna Long and Jordan Polo also had a three-set battle on court two. Long and Polo lost the first set 21-17 but fought back in the second set to win 21-16 and force the third set. The third set was back and forth but the duo was able to grind out the extra point win 17-15.
Carra Sassack and Audrey Koenig dominated on court three. The pair won a quick 21-11 in the first set. Hawaii kept the second set closer but Koenig and Sassack held out defensively winning 21-17.
Alexis Durish and Makenna Wolfe continued their dominant play into this tournament. The pair won the first set 21-14 and took the second set to extra points before dropping 22-20. Wolfe and Durish found their groove in the third set and did not allow Hawaii to score more than seven points, winning 15-6.
Maddie Anderson and Paige Kalkhoff fought hard in their match but were unable to pull out the win. The duo lost the first set in extra points 22-20 and the second set 21-15.
FSU 2, No. 3 USC 3
In a national championship rematch from 2022 Florida State lost a heartbreaker to USC on a clinch point.
Carra Sassack and Audrey Koenig kept their sets close but ultimately lost the first set 21-19 and the second set 21-18 giving USC their first dual point.
Raelyn White and Caitlin Moon played extremely well on court four. The pair won 21-16 in the first set then dropped a close second set 21-18. The third set was back and forth but White and Moon pulled ahead towards the end and won 15-11, giving the Noles their first dual point.
Makenna Wolfe and Alexis Durish continued their impressive day with a three set battle on court five. The pair won the first set 21-16 but dropped the second set 21-16. The third set was where Wolfe and Durish once again found their groove, and quickly put away the Trojans 15-8.
Maddie Anderson and Paige Kalkhoff were in a heavyweight bout on court one. The duo won the first set 21-15 but dropped the second set in extra points 25-23. The third set was…