FSU beach volleyball upsets USC, loses to UCLA, Stanford

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU sports information:

The No. 7 Florida State beach volleyball team went 1-2 on day one of the Death Volley Invitational in Baton Rouge. The Seminoles defeated the defending national champions, No. 4 USC, and fell to No. 1 UCLA and No. 5 Stanford on Friday.

The Seminoles opened the weekend with a 4-1 loss to No. 1 UCLA. The Noles proved competitive in the loss, forcing a third set on three courts, and emerging victorious on court four. Makenna Wolfe and Myriah Massey engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Bruins, claiming Florida State’s dual point 17-21, 21-18, 16-14. Audrey Koenig and Alexis Durish earned an early advantage on the first flight but ultimately dropped the point.

Florida State then bounced back and pulled off a 3-2 upset against No. 4 USC. The Seminoles defeated the Trojans in straight sets on all three winning courts. Southern Cal earned the first point of the dual on court two. Wolfe and Massey then tied the dual on court four, defeating Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow 21-13, 21-19. Durish and Koenig took court one before Carra Sassack and Bailey Higgins secured the dual for the Seminoles on court three in a three-set battle.

FSU finished the day with a loss to No. 5 Stanford. The Cardinal jumped out to a 4-0 lead by winning courts one, four, and two. Gella Andrew and Maddie Trusty put up a hard fight on court two, but ultimately dropped the point 21-18, 24-22. The pairs of Sassack and Higgins and Jordan Boulware and Kenzie Hultquist fought back despite the loss and earned two dual points on courts three and five respectively.

The Seminoles will wrap up the weekend on Saturday against No. 9 Long Beach State at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time. Live stats will be available on Seminoles.com.

#1 UCLA 4, #7 Florida State 1

1. Maggie Boyd/Sally Perez (UCLA) def. Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) 12-21, 21-16, 15-13
2. Peri Brennan/Natalie Myszkowski (UCLA) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) 21-17, 21-16
3. Ensley Alden/Kenzie Brower (UCLA) def. Carra Sassack/Bailey Higgins (FSU) 20-22, 21-15, 15-8
4. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU) def. Alexa Fernandez/Kaley Matthews (UCLA) 17-21, 21-18, 16-14
5. Harper Cooper/Jessie Smith (UCLA) def. Kenzie Hultquist/Jordan Boulware (FSU) 21-13, 21-15

#7 Florida State 3, #4 USC 2

1. Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) def. Zoey Henson/Maddy White (USC) 21-19, 21-18
2. Kennedy Coakley/Ashley Prater (USC) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) 21-16, 21-13
3. Carra Sassack/Bailey Higgins (FSU) def. Maya Gessner/Ella Larkin (USC) 21-15, 18-21, 15-11
4. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU) def. Madison Goellner/Kaileigh Truslow (USC) 21-13, 21-19
5. Calinda Kok/Mabyn Thomas (USC) def. Jordan Boulware/Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) 22-20, 18-21, 15-13

#5 Stanford 3, #7 Florida State 2

1. Avery Jackson/Brooke Rockwell (STAN) def. Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU) 21-15, 21-16
2. Ruby Sorra/Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) 21-18, 24-22
3. Carra Sassack/Bailey Higgins (FSU) def. Kelly Belardi/Chloe Hoffman (STAN) 18-21, 21-18, 15-11
4. Charlotte Bell/Daria Gurarova (STAN) def. Makenna Wolfe/Myriah Massey (FSU) 18-21, 22-20, 18-16
5. Jordan Boulware/Kenzie Hultquist (FSU) def. Emmy Sharp/Ashley Vincent (STAN) 21-18, 21-15

 

[seminole72]

That is some brutal competition, aptly named. We'll get 'em next time.

Love them Lady Noles 🏐

 

[jerinole]

For anyone around Tally next weekend, we have one of the few home meets in Beach Volleyball. If you've never been, it is non-stop action because multiple courts are all playing at the same time. And the athleticism shown playing in the sand is amazing. Check it out if you can.