Nothing major in terms of a depth chart update for FSU this week. Three positions that formerly listed co-starters now have a more established pecking order entering Monday's Boston College game.

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Five days removed from last Saturday's loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Florida State held its first of two practice availabilities this week Thursday morning four days out from the Seminoles' home opener vs. Boston College Monday night (7:30 p.m. on ESPN).

Here are some abbreviated observations from the day's work:

• By now, I knew not to expect much of a change in terms of how this week's practices were run in spite of last weekend's result. We have definitely learned by now that Mike Norvell values consistency above all else so there wasn't any change to the schedule itinerary or much of how the practice was run. However, I did feel the team brought a certain intensity to the day's work. You could say it felt like there was a fire lit under the team's butts and they responded to that in a good way on the practice field.
• After the FSU defensive line was largely shut down vs. GT, the top players you expect to see make an impact made their presence felt throughout Thursday's practice. Darrell Jackson was dominant in 1-on-1 pass-rush reps. Josh Farmer had a few reps where he showed off an intensity and physicality that was lacking Saturday. Pat Payton had a few great reps, including one in a team period where he surged into the backfield for an instant tackle for loss.
• The FSU defense as a whole looked much better against the scout-team offense as BC gameplan work ramped up during Thursday's practice. Yes, it's the scout team and yes, I want to see it or myself against another offense before fully buying into it. But it was undeniable that the defense as a whole was doing a much better job of swarming to the ball, filling correct gaps and wrapping up the ballcarrier during these portions of practice. Blake Nichelson made a great play on the goal line where he stood up the ballcarrier to keep him out of the end zone.
• On offense, Jaylin Lucas had an impactful day of work less than 24 hours after Mike Norvell admitted in his weekly press conference that he needs to get him on the field more than the seven snaps he played vs. GT. Lucas broke a run up the middle during the first team period, caught a pass from Brock Glenn during the next 11-on-11 period and then got matched up on a linebacker in 1-on-1s, blowing past him for an easy grab for a big gain. Micahi Danzy also made a great catch in 7-on-7 pass skelly where he elevated to make a catch on the sideline and got both feet down for a catch and BJ Gibson made an immaculate catch in 1-on-1s, securing a one-handed grab on a deep ball that was slightly behind him.

FSU will be back at practice Friday morning, the final availability before Monday night's home opener at Doak Campbell Stadium.

As a veteran of the secondary, Shyheim Brown knows the FSU defense's performance vs. GT was not up to the program's standard.

He's one of a few guys pushing teammates to that standard while FSU DC Adam Fuller is looking for all-around improvement vs. BC.

Story from Justin Hood:

Taylor Huff scores a second-half goal as a shorthanded FSU soccer team ties Georgia 1-1 in a top-20 matchup

Via the SEC:

Southeastern Conference schools will provide public reports on the availability of student-athletes to participate in each Conference game in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, beginning with the 2024 SEC football season, it was announced Thursday.

“This availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information and represents a commitment of our 16 institutions to provide enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

According to a policy approved by the Conference’s membership, SEC schools will be required to submit availability reports three days prior to each Conference football game (beginning on Wednesday in advance of a Saturday football game) with daily updates leading to a final report 90 minutes prior to game time. In the sports of basketball and baseball, reports will be filed the night before each SEC contest with an update on game day.

Under the reporting structure, prior to game day, student-athletes will be designated as “available,” “probable,” “questionable,” “doubtful,” or “out” for their next game. To provide additional clarity on game day, student-athletes will be designated as “available,” “game time decision,” or “out” for the upcoming game.

Football school availability reports will be posted on the SEC’s website at SECsports.com/fbreports.

Failure to provide accurate and timely availability reports will subject schools to potential penalties ranging from $25,000 for a first offense to $100,000 for a third and further offenses in football, and a maximum of $15,000 to $25,000 in men’s and women’s basketball and baseball.

FSU sports information:

The No. 1 Florida State soccer team (3-0-0) hosts its first ranked match of the season against No. 16 Georgia (1-1-1) on Thursday evening. The Seminoles currently hold a program record 26 game unbeaten streak and have not conceded a goal in the past five regular season non-conference games.

FSU will host Georgia for the first time since 2004. The Seminoles have defeated the Bulldogs in their last three meetings, including a 3-1 victory in Athens last time the two sides met.

The Seminoles continue to extend and break program records on their impressive run dating back to last season’s national championship. Florida State has scored in 37 straight games, holds a 26-game unbeaten streak and possesses an 18-game winning streak, all of which are program bests. FSU also holds an 18-game home winning streak dating back to 2022, one shy of the second-longest streak set back in 2015.

The reigning national champions have remained perfect through the first two weeks of the season and recorded a strong 3-0 victory over Rice this past week. Ashlyn Puerta opened the scoring with a long-range effort that launched into the top right corner before Wrianna Hudson and Lara Dantas each scored to put the game to rest.

The Seminoles have scored 18 goals through the first three games which equals the team’s most since 2009 and have yet to concede through the first three games for the third time in five seasons. FSU has conceded just one goal since last season’s ACC Championship victory with eight shutouts.

All six freshmen outfield players have recorded a point through the opening portion of the season and five players have registered a goal. Dantas and Puerta lead the group with two goals each while Hudson has provided two assists along with her first career goal.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. and general admission is free. All students attending will be eligible for a free koozie upon entry. The 7 p.m. game will be available to stream on ACC Network Extra.

While the Seminoles were in Ireland, many of the high school programs from around the country started their seasons. Here are some of the standout performances from FSU commits from the first week of the season.

https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...lorida-state-hs-commits-and-targets-in-week-1

freshly back from Dublin and don't have flexibility to get to TLH this Monday night. One seat near midfield ( East side but....hey- it's a night game!) , Section 10 row 51. Going for $100+ each on Stubhub, will sell for EITHER $50 or a promise to buy me one or two beers at a future game. Go Noles!

Be grateful we have this guy. We're in a second rank conference with a 15-20 level budget to compete in this NIL world against the top shelf. It's not coaching, we have talent but not upper echelon talent at all positions.

FSU sports information:

The Florida State softball team released its nine-game fall schedule on Thursday afternoon with seven of those games at the Seminole Softball Complex. All fall games at the Seminole Softball Complex will be free to attend.

FSU will open up the fall schedule on Oct. 4 against Chipola at the Seminole Softball Complex at 5 p.m. FSU will then continue the homestand on Oct. 6 against West Florida and Oct. 12 against St. Johns River State College. FSU will travel to Troy to play the Trojans on at 2 p.m. eastern. Troy finished the 2024 season with a 34-22 record.

The Seminoles will return home to take on Gulf Coast State College on Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. FSU will have a date with rival and 2024 NCAA Semifinalist Florida in Gainesville at 2 p.m. on Oct. 27. The Seminoles will round out fall ball with three home games against South Alabama on Nov. 3, Team Canada on Nov. 8 and Auburn on Nov. 9.

The Seminoles return seven starters from their lineup as well as three pitchers who saw a start in the circle in 2023. Headlining the returners is National Freshman of the Year and NFCA Second Team All-American Jaysoni Beachum and NFCA Third Team All-American. FSU also returns five All-ACC players in Beachum, Edenfield, Ashtyn Danley, Isa Torres and Jahni Kerr.

FSU brings in six new players for the 2025 season including another top 5 recruiting class including Addie Delong, Jazzy Francik, Shelby McKenzie and Isabella Ruggiero. FSU also brought in transfer Julia Apsel who posted a 1.39 ERA and pitched 20 complete games in 31 starts. FSU also brought in infielder and pitcher Annabelle Widra.

Widra played in 49 games for Auburn in 2024 and 21 starts at third base, eight starts at second base, five starts at pitcher, one start at pitcher and one start as the designated player. Widra hit .259 with two home runs and nine RBI while also posting a 2.86 ERA in the circles. Widra had 38 strikeouts compared to just three walks in the 41.2 innings in the circle.

2024 Florida State Softball Fall Schedule
October 4 - vs. Chipola - 5 p.m.
October 6 - vs. West Florida - 1 p.m.
October 12 - vs. St. Johns River State College - 2 p.m.
October 13 - at Troy - 2 p.m. est/1 p.m. cst
October 19 - vs. Gulf Coast State College - 2 p.m.
October 27 - at Florida - 2 p.m.
November 3 - vs. South Alabama - 2 p.m.
November 8 - vs. Team Canada - 5 p.m.
November 9 - vs. Auburn – Noon

Please join me at 3pm for Seminole Sidelines as we preview the Boston College game with Kevin Stone from the BC Rivals site, EagleAction.com. He will talk about what to expect from Bill O' Brien's team on Monday night.

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Florida State is expecting one of it's main 2026 DT targets on campus this weekend.

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FSU sports information:

Florida State’s Lottie Woad begins play Friday as a member of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the 2024 Curtis Cup Match (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) at the Sunningdale Golf Club in Sunningdale, England. As the World’s No. 1 ranked player in each of the last five weeks of the WAGR rankings, Woad headlines the eight European golfers who will play against the United States in the 43rd edition of the championship.

Woad is one of seven members of the GB&I team who will make their first appearance in the Curtis Cup.

Woad is quite familiar with the Sunningdale Golf Club as it is located just 25 minutes from her family home in Farnham. She has been victorious in two events at Sunningdale – the 2021 Critchley Salver and the 2022 Sunningdale Foursomes -- and considers Sunningdale the favorite course she has played in her junior career. The Sunningdale Foursomes (a nearly 100-year old event) features male and female, and well as professional and amateur golfers all competing for a single trophy.

"I'm very much looking forward to playing in the Curtis Cup,” said Woad. “We've got a strong team, we all get along great, and Sunningdale is a fantastic course, so it's going to be a fun week."

Woad is joined on the GB&I team by Seminole Hall of Famer Karen Stupples, who will serve as an Assistant Captain for the team. Stupples has not only played in the Curtis Cup, but she won the 2004 British Open at the Sunningdale Golf Club. She played for the GB&I team on the Curtis Cup winning team in 1996 in Killarney, Ireland, and the runner-up 1998 team in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Curtis Cup is the most prestigious team trophy for women amateur golfers and contested every two year by teams representing GB&I and the United States. The event was first played in 1932. The format includes three foursomes and three four-ball matches on each of the first two days, and eight singles matches on the final day.

The United States leads the all-time series by a 31-8 margin with three ties during the 42 contested events.

2024 Curtis Cup GB&I Team
Lottie Woad, Florida State University
Sara Byrne, University of Miami
Beth Coulter, Arizona State University
Hannah Darling, University of South Carolina
Aine Donegan, Louisiana State University
Lorna McClymont, University of Sterling
Euphemie Rhodes, Wake Forest University
Patience Rhodes, Arizona State University

2024 Curtis Cup United States Team
Zoe Campos, UCLA
Anna Davis, Auburn University
Melaine Green, University of South Florida
Jasmine Koo, University of Southern California
Rachel Kuehn, Wake Forest University
Catherine Park, University of Southern California
Megan Schofill, Auburn University
Asterisk Talley, Chowchilla Union (Cal.) High School

FSU sports information:

The No. 20 Florida State volleyball team begins their season as they look to defend their ACC Championship and build on their most wins since 2016 as the 2024 season begins with the Seminoles Invitational this weekend at Tully Gym. FSU will take on USF on Friday night at 6 p.m., UC Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. on Saturday and against No. 25 Georgia at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Friday's and Saturday's games will be streamed on ACCNX with Sunday's top 25 matchup against No. 25 Georgia can be seen on the ACC Network.

Noles Begin Season by Hosting Seminole Invitational

• For the first time since 2011, the Florida State volleyball team will begin its season inside of Tully Gym as they host USF, UC Santa Barbara and Georgia for the Seminole Invitational on Aug.30-Sept. 1.
• The Seminoles are 30-8 on opening weekend under Head Coach Chris Poole.
• The Seminoles have won 11 consecutive games inside of Tully Gym dating back to last season.
• Both Georgia and UC Santa Barbara qualified for the NCAA Tournament while USF finished the season 22-12.

Noles Look to Build Off Historic 2023 Season

• For the first time since 2012, Florida State won the ACC Championship as they shared the title with Final Four participant Pitt after posting a 16-2 record in conference play.
• FSU's 23 wins was its most wins since the 2016 season.
• FSU returns six players who played in 25 or more matches last season including Audrey Koenig who was the 2023 ACC Co-Player of the Year.
• The Seminoles added six new players to the 2024 roster which include four transfers and two true freshmen.

You Can't Teach Height

• The 2024 squad will be one of Head Coach Chris Poole's tallest teams as the head coach at FSU.
• The Seminoles have eight players at 6-2 or taller. The only year the Seminoles had more players taller than 6-2 was 2019 when the Seminoles had nine players 6-2 or taller.
• FSU also has one of the tallest teams in the entire ACC. No one has more players 6-2 or taller than FSU. Pitt and Virginia also have eight players that are 6-2 or taller.

No Better Teacher than Experience

• Nothing can ever replace experience, and the Seminoles have a lot of experience on the 2024 squad.
• 10 out of FSU's 16 players have played in 25 or more matches.
• FSU has five players (Dupes, Head, Koenig, Louis, Robertson) who have played in 50 or more matches.
• FSU also added Iane Henke who played 66 matches for Cal State LA, a DII program.

Getting Challenged Early and Often

• The Seminoles will get tested early and often in the 2024 season.
• In 10 non conference games, four of those games will come against teams that made the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Nine out of the 10 teams that FSU will play in the non conference had a winning record in 2023.
• The Seminoles ACC schedule is no cupcake either as the Seminoles will play Elite Eight participants Louisville, Pitt and Stanford as well as NCAA Tournament qualifiers Georgia Tech, Miami (2x) and SMU (2x).

SHE'S BAAAACCCKKKKK

• The reigning 2023 ACC Co-Player of the Year Audrey Koenig is back for one last season with the Seminoles and will look to solidify herself as one of the top players in FSU history.
• Koenig was just the fourth Seminole to win the ACC Player of the Year award and was the first Nole to accomplish the feat since Payton Caffrey in 2018.
• Koenig also earned 2023 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors for the first time in her career.
• Koenig led the Noles in 2023 with 374 kills on 900 total attacks while hitting .300.
• Koenig was also great defensively as she was second on the team with 306 digs.
• Koenig's 13 double-doubles last season were the 13th-most in FSU history.
• Koenig has recorded 957 kills during her career with the Garnet and Gold. That mark is tied for seventh all-time in program history in the rally scoring era. Koenig will look to become just the sixth Seminole in the rally scoring era to surpass 1,000 kills. Koenig also ranks fifth all-time in the rally scoring era with 2,619 attacks.

Louis Coming Off Her Best Season as a Nole

• FSU senior and Tallahassee native Khori Louis put together her best season as a Seminole in 2023 as she earned First Team All-ACC honors and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention for the first time in her career.
• Louis hit a career-high .432 which ranked fourth in the nation and was the fifth-best mark in school history and the best mark since Sareea Freeman in 2012.
• Louis holds a career hitting percentage of .366 which is fourth all-time in FSU history. Brianna Barry holds the program record for career hitting percentage as she hit .371 in her career from 2006-09.
• Louis was second on the team with 271 kills and 93 blocks in 2023.
• In her career, Louis has recorded 757 kills which is tied for 14th in program history in the rally scoring era. Louis needs just 100 kills to crack the top 10 list.
• Louis also ranks top 15 in program history in the rally scoring era in solo blocks, assisted blocks and total blocks.

Noles Make Transfer Splash with Taylor Head

• The Seminoles made one of the biggest transfer moves in college volleyball last season as they picked up transfer Taylor Head from Arkansas. Head will have one season with the Seminoles after four seasons with Arkansas. Head is using her extra year of eligibility due to playing in 2021 when the season was altered due to COVID-19.
• Head was one of the best hitters not only in the SEC but the entire country last season as she picked up AVCA Third Team All-America honors after recording 494 kills with a .231 hitting percentage for a Razorback team that qualified for the Elite Eight.
• Her 494 kills ranked 19th in the country and second in the SEC.
• Head was one of the best all-around players in the country last season as she was third in the entire nation with 22 double-doubles.
• Head ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in total kills, kills per set, total attacks, attacks per set, double-doubles, points and total digs.
• Last season, Head would've led the ACC in total kills, points, double doubles and total attacks. Head also would've ranked in the top five in kills per set, attacks per set and points per set.
• Head spent her spring with the Florida State beach volleyball team where she finished the season with a 8-2 record.

Dupes Ready To Get Back on the Court

• After a knee injury kept her off the court in 2023, libero Emery Dupes is ready to become a force for the Seminoles' defense once again.
• Prior to injury, Dupes led the team with 287 digs in 2022 while playing in 94 sets.
• As a freshman, Dupes earned All-ACC honors and became the first freshman libero in FSU history to earn All-ACC honors.
• Broke the school freshman record with 3.88 digs per set and was also just the 12th player in FSU history to record over 400 digs.
• Dupes is currently averaging 3.50 digs per set in her career which ranks seventh all-time in FSU history.
• Dupes has also been terrific behind the service line recording 44 aces in two seasons. In 2021, Dupes recorded six service aces in a single match which is tied for the third-most ever by a Seminole in a single match.

Experienced Transfers

• In addition to Taylor Head, Chris Poole brought in a plethora of transfers who bring a variety of experience to the 2024 team.
• Poole brought in Memphis transfer Loren Robertson who played in 78 matches in four seasons for Memphis. Robertson's best season came in 2022 when she played in every match and recorded a career-high 1,181 assists while adding 320 digs.
• Poole also added 2022 Division II National Freshman of the Year and 2023 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Iane Henke from Cal State LA. Henke helped Cal State LA to their first-ever National Championship by putting down a career-high 21 kills in the National Championship Game. Henke ended her season with 407 kills and 405 digs.
• Kelsey Perry comes to the Noles from Iowa State as a middle blocker. Perry redshirted in 2023 but had a great freshman season for the Cyclones as she was second on the team with 92 total blocks in 26 matches.

Sophomore Class Ready to Take Next Step

• Coach Poole brought in a talented freshman before the 2023 season, and they all made a great contribution to the 2023 ACC Championship team.
• Kenna Phelan was one of FSU's main setters last season as she played in all 32 matches for the Seminoles while making nine starts. Phelan recorded 602 assists while also serving up 26 aces for the Seminoles.
• Kyleene Filimaua had to shift to the Seminoles main libero as injuries hit FSU last season, and she thrived as she led the team with 326 digs. Filimaua is expected to return to her main position at outside hitter. Filimaua recorded 50 kills last season for the Noles.
• Maddie Snider was key to the Seminoles' depth on the right side as she played in 31 out of the 32 matches. Snider put down 151 kills while also adding 57 total blocks.
• Ella Gaona came in key moments for the Seminoles on the defensive end last season as she played in 72 assists and recorded 74 digs for FSU.

Sova Comes In and Brings International Experience

• Coach Poole made a big addition during the summer as he brought in 6-5 freshman Johanna Sova from Tallinn, Estonia.
• Sova did not sign with the Seminoles until the summer and did not make it to campus until August 19 as she was playing with the Estonian National Team.
• Sova was a member of the Estonia U19 and U21 teams and was a three-time Estonian Championship winner.

Noles Take Trip of a Lifetime This Past Summer

• The Florida State volleyball team took a foreign trip this summer over to Europe.
• The Seminoles played four matches against teams from Greece, Italy and Maribor.
• FSU also did plenty of exploring the Athena Olympic Stadium, Venice, Mlilan and much more.

Louis Gains Valuable Experience with Team USA

• Senior Khori Louis played with some of the best players in the country and the world as she was on the Team USA squad for the NORECA Final 6.
• Louis helped Team USA take Silver at the event, and Louis had seven kills and a match-high four blocks in the Gold Medal Match.

Watts Returns to FSU as Assistant Coach

• Holly Watts returned to Florida State last spring as the Seminoles' new assistant coach while also serving as the team's Director of Operations.
• Watts was an assistant coach for the Seminoles from 2008-12.
• After leaving Tallahassee, Watts served as the head coach at UTEP and Western New Mexico.
• Watts was also an assistant coach under Coach Poole at Arkansas from 1996-2007.

FSU sports information:

TALLAHASSEE– The Florida State cross country teams will open the 2024 season by racing at the UCF Invitational in Orlando on Friday.

The women’s 5k will start at 6:15 p.m., followed by the men’s 5k at 6:45 p.m.

“I’m beyond excited to kick off the cross country season on Friday, “ FSU women’s head coach Cody Halsey said. “We’ve added a ton of new talent who we believe will be immediately impactful. This group combined with our returners is going to be exciting to watch as they grow, compete and succeed together.”

The men return Ahmed Ibrahim, who captured All-Region honors in 2023 before contributing to the Noles second place finish at the NCAA South Regional Championship. Ibrahim will be joined by Kidus Misgina who will be running his first XC season at Florida State.

In addition to Ibrahim, Zach Cloud and Matthew Neill, ran at the 2023 NCAA Championships, helping the Seminoles place 27th.

“The UCF Invite will be a great opportunity to test our fitness after a big block of early season training,” said assistant coach Ian Frazier. “More than that though, it’s a chance to reacquaint ourselves with the habits and routines of race day as we prepare for our higher stake competitions later in the year. I couldn’t be more excited to be with these men during this time.”

The women’s team returns Rebecca Bergnes who made an appearance at the 2022 and 2023 NCAA National Championship, while Bieke Schipperen competed at the NCAA South Regional Championship in 2023.

Bergnes and Schipperen will be joined by Brooke Mullins who will be entering her first XC season at Florida State, after a stint at Drake University where she competed at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Mullins was the first athlete in program history to qualify for the NCAA National Championship since Ashley Anklam in 2007.

The USTFCCCA released its preseason polls on Monday. The men were listed fourth in the South Region, while the women were selected eighth.

The ACC also released its order of finish on Tuesday. The women were selected 11th in the league (131), while the men were chosen eighth (153).

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When you get "upset" and are a double digit favorite, you turn it over 5 times, you throw a pick 6 you have 12 penalties (many critical situations) for 110 yards and you can just say, bad game, lots of mistakes, it went their way, if we played them again we win by 30. We have a lot of room for improvement because we played clean and got smashed up fronton both sides of the ball.

Rivals' John Garcia discusses the potential for flips of Myron Charles, Joshua Moore, Bryce Fitzgerald and DJ Pickett:

On his catches vs. GT, playing alongside Jaylin Lucas and more:

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Coach Mike Norvell discusses Florida State's response after a loss, how the linebackers have performed in practice and more on Thursday morning.

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