TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State returned to winning form Sunday afternoon, October 25, defeating Notre Dame 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-16) at Tully Gymnasium behind an efficient offensive performance from senior outside hitter Kyleene Filimaua and a commanding defensive effort. Filimaua led the Seminoles with 11 kills on a .370 hitting percentage, adding six digs and two blocks. Setter Emma Lilo contributed 26 assists, 11 digs and three service aces, recording her fifth double-double of the season. The victory improved Florida State to 11-9 overall and 5-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Notre Dame fell to 4-15 and 1-9 in conference competition. The Seminoles held the Fighting Irish to a .092 hitting percentage, outblocked Notre Dame 9-3 and recorded a 5-0 advantage in service aces. Kyleene Filimaua Leads Florida State's Offensive Attack Filimaua provided the offensive consistency Florida State needed to secure its fifth ACC victory. The senior finished with 11 kills while hitting .370, giving the Seminoles a reliable attacking option throughout the match. Her six digs and two blocks also contributed to Florida State's defensive success. Sophomore outside hitter Payton Whalen delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, recording a season-high eight kills and a career-high seven digs. Whalen also contributed two blocks, strengthening Florida State's presence at the net. Middle blocker Nenu Kpea added six kills and four blocks, while opposite hitter Bailey Higgins finished with four kills and a match-high five blocks. The balanced production helped Florida State maintain offensive pressure while disrupting Notre Dame's attacking rhythm. Florida State Holds Off Notre Dame in First Set The opening set featured several competitive exchanges as Notre Dame attempted to challenge the Seminoles on their home court. Filimaua helped Florida State establish an early advantage with a kill that put the Seminoles ahead 5-4. Florida State gradually extended its lead to 10-6, forcing Notre Dame to call a timeout. The Fighting Irish responded with improved attacking and defensive execution, eventually tying the score at 12-12. However, Florida State regained control. The Seminoles established a 15-13 advantage heading into the media timeout before continuing to build momentum. Whalen contributed an important kill during the closing stages as Florida State maintained its lead. The Seminoles finished the opening set with 14 kills, three blocks and two service aces. Florida State secured a 25-20 victory, taking a 1-0 advantage in the match. Seminoles Survive Notre Dame's Second-Set Comeback Florida State continued applying pressure early in the second set. A block from Filimaua helped establish the Seminoles' defensive presence before Notre Dame responded to tie the score. Whalen delivered another kill to restore Florida State's advantage. After several exchanges, the Seminoles moved ahead 7-5 and gradually extended their lead. Filimaua recorded her fifth kill of the afternoon to push Florida State ahead 10-6. Higgins and Delaney Ewing later combined for an important block, helping the Seminoles establish a 15-8 advantage at the media timeout. Notre Dame responded with a scoring run that reduced the deficit to 20-16. The Fighting Irish continued competing during the closing stages, forcing Florida State to execute under pressure. Lilo contributed another service ace, while Whalen delivered her eighth kill of the match. The Seminoles eventually secured a 25-22 victory, taking a commanding 2-0 lead. Through two sets, Florida State had recorded 27 kills, five blocks and four service aces. Florida State Dominates Third Set to Complete Sweep Florida State entered the third set determined to finish the match without allowing Notre Dame an opportunity to extend the contest. The Seminoles established an early 12-7 advantage through consistent attacking and defensive pressure. Notre Dame struggled to maintain offensive rhythm as Florida State continued challenging its hitters at the net. The Seminoles extended their lead to 15-8 at the media timeout. Filimaua later recorded her 10th kill of the match, helping Florida State build a 20-12 advantage. The Fighting Irish could not generate a sustained comeback. Florida State maintained control during the final exchanges, closing the set 25-16 to complete the straight-set victory. The convincing third-set performance demonstrated the Seminoles' ability to finish strongly after surviving more competitive opening frames. Emma Lilo Records Fifth Double-Double of the Season Lilo delivered another productive all-around performance for Florida State. The junior setter finished with 26 assists and 11 digs, recording her fifth double-double of the season. She also led all players with three service aces, contributing to Florida State's decisive advantage from the service line. Her ability to distribute the ball helped Filimaua, Whalen and Kpea generate consistent offensive opportunities. Lilo's defensive contributions also supported a Florida State backcourt that limited Notre Dame's attacking effectiveness. The Seminoles' combination of organized setting, aggressive serving and strong blocking created challenges for the Fighting Irish throughout the match. Florida State Defense Limits Notre Dame to .092 Hitting Florida State's defense played a central role in Sunday's victory. The Seminoles recorded nine team blocks compared with Notre Dame's three. Higgins led all players with five blocks, while Kpea added four. Their presence at the net repeatedly challenged Notre Dame's attackers and disrupted the Fighting Irish offense. Florida State also finished with five service aces, while Notre Dame did not record any. The Seminoles held Notre Dame to a .092 team hitting percentage, demonstrating their effectiveness in limiting offensive opportunities. The defensive performance was especially important after Florida State entered the match following difficult results against nationally ranked ACC opponents. Mae Kordas Leads Notre Dame Despite Defeat Notre Dame received a productive performance from Mae Kordas, who led all players with 12 kills while adding seven digs. Sydney Helmers, Chichi Nnaji and Anna Bjork each contributed eight kills, providing balanced offensive production. Setter Maya Baker finished with 28 assists and 10 digs, recording her first double-double of the season. The performance marked just the second time in Baker's collegiate career that she reached double-digit digs. Sophomore Maya Evens also delivered a strong defensive effort, recording 13 digs and a career-high nine assists. Despite those individual contributions, Notre Dame struggled to overcome Florida State's blocking and serving advantages. The Fighting Irish remained competitive during portions of the first two sets but could not establish consistent momentum. Florida State Earns Fifth ACC Victory Sunday's result represented an important response for Florida State following its recent challenges against nationally ranked conference opponents. The Seminoles entered the matchup after suffering a defeat against No. 3 Louisville. Against Notre Dame, Florida State demonstrated improved defensive organization and offensive consistency. The victory marked the program's fourth sweep in its last six home matches, reinforcing its ability to perform effectively at Tully Gymnasium. At 5-4 in conference play, Florida State moved above .500 in the ACC standings. For Notre Dame, the defeat continued a difficult conference campaign as the Fighting Irish searched for greater consistency. What's Next for Florida State and Notre Dame? Florida State returns to the road Friday, October 30, when it visits Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, with coverage available on ACCNX. The Seminoles then travel to Charlottesville to face Virginia on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET. Notre Dame returns home to host Georgia Tech on Friday, October 30, at 6:30 p.m., followed by Clemson on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. For Florida State, Filimaua's offensive leadership, Lilo's double-double and an effective defensive performance combined to deliver a convincing 3-0 victory. The Seminoles will look to build on their fifth conference win as the ACC regular season continues.

ATLANTA, Ga. — No. 7 SMU continued its impressive road form Sunday, October 25, defeating Georgia Tech 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-21) at McCamish Pavilion behind a dominant performance from outside hitter Suli Davis. Davis recorded 17 kills and 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season, helping the Mustangs survive two closely contested sets before completing their ninth sweep of the year. SMU improved to 16-4 overall and 8-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, extending its undefeated conference road record to 5-0. Georgia Tech fell to 13-7 and 5-4 in the ACC. Gabi Placide contributed 11 kills while hitting .667, and setter Hannah Beauford delivered 44 assists as the Mustangs secured another important conference victory. Suli Davis Leads SMU With 17 Kills and 12 Digs Davis established herself as SMU's most productive attacker, finishing with a match-high 17 kills. Her 12 digs completed her seventh double-double of the season and helped the Mustangs maintain defensive stability during extended rallies. The performance marked Davis' 16th match with double-digit kills this season and the 46th of her collegiate career. SMU improved to 6-1 this season when Davis records a double-double, reflecting her importance to the team's success. Placide provided another outstanding offensive contribution, recording 11 kills on a .667 hitting percentage. Her attacking efficiency ranked as the third-highest by an SMU player with at least 10 attempts this season. Together, Davis and Placide gave the Mustangs reliable offensive options against Georgia Tech's blocking defense. SMU Survives First-Set Battle 26-24 Georgia Tech challenged SMU throughout the opening set. The Mustangs established an early 6-3 advantage before the Yellow Jackets responded behind Alida Bennour and Laura Bieleski. The teams exchanged points during a competitive stretch, remaining tied through several rallies. SMU eventually built a 19-15 advantage, but Georgia Tech responded with improved blocking and timely attacking. The Yellow Jackets reduced the deficit to 21-20, forcing another SMU timeout. Georgia Tech later tied the score at 22-22 before both teams continued exchanging points. Davis delivered an important late kill to put SMU ahead 24-23. Bieleski answered for Georgia Tech, tying the frame at 24. However, SMU responded with two consecutive points, including the decisive kill from Jadyn Livings, to secure a 26-24 opening-set victory. The Mustangs finished the frame with 18 kills while hitting .225. Georgia Tech Pushes SMU Again in Second Set The second set followed a similar pattern as Georgia Tech challenged the nationally ranked Mustangs. The Yellow Jackets opened with a 4-1 advantage and later extended their lead to 7-4. SMU responded with four consecutive points to move ahead 8-7. Georgia Tech regained momentum when Simone Heard delivered consecutive service aces, helping the Yellow Jackets build a 13-10 advantage. The aces were the first two of Heard's collegiate career. Davis helped SMU recover, recording a kill that tied the set at 14. Bennour then contributed important offensive production as Georgia Tech maintained a narrow advantage. SMU eventually tied the score at 19 before moving ahead 22-20. Georgia Tech responded again, tying the frame at 23 and later 24. Despite the resistance, the Mustangs executed during the final exchanges to claim another 26-24 victory. The narrow result gave SMU a 2-0 advantage despite Georgia Tech's competitive performance. Mustangs Complete Sweep With 25-21 Third Set SMU entered the third set determined to finish the match without allowing Georgia Tech another opportunity. The Mustangs established an early 5-1 lead, forcing the Yellow Jackets into a timeout. SMU continued attacking effectively, extending its advantage to 9-3. However, Georgia Tech refused to surrender. Middle blocker Zoë Humphrey contributed three blocks during a five-point stretch, helping the Yellow Jackets reduce the deficit to 12-11. SMU responded with three consecutive points, including a service ace from Elle Vandeweghe, to rebuild its advantage at 15-11. Georgia Tech continued competing and eventually narrowed the score to 17-16. The Mustangs maintained their composure, relying on timely kills to prevent the Yellow Jackets from completing the comeback. Favor Anyanwu delivered SMU's final two kills, securing a 25-21 third-set victory and completing the sweep. Hannah Beauford Delivers Outstanding All-Around Performance Beauford played an important role in directing SMU's offense. The redshirt freshman finished with 44 assists, her highest total in a three-set match this season. She also contributed nine digs, five blocks and one service ace. Her ability to distribute the ball helped SMU maintain offensive efficiency against Georgia Tech's defense. The Mustangs finished with a .264 hitting percentage, compared with Georgia Tech's .155. SMU also recorded 10 team blocks, with Beauford and Anyanwu contributing five apiece. Libero Victoria Harris and defensive specialist Sarah Frazee each finished with 13 digs. Frazee's performance established a new career high, while Harris reached double-digit digs for the 16th time this season. The defensive contributions helped SMU withstand Georgia Tech's repeated comeback attempts. Alida Bennour Leads Georgia Tech Despite Defeat Georgia Tech received another productive performance from freshman Alida Bennour. Bennour finished with a team-high 15 kills, extending her streak of matches with double-digit kills to eight. The performance marked her 16th double-digit kill match of the season. Humphrey provided a strong defensive presence, recording a match-high seven blocks. Heard contributed three kills, two service aces, five digs and two block assists. Setter Mana Kaneko added a season-high seven assists and nine digs. Despite those individual contributions, Georgia Tech struggled to maintain consistent attacking efficiency. The Yellow Jackets finished with 33 kills, compared with SMU's 53. Their .155 hitting percentage limited their ability to convert scoring opportunities against the Mustangs. SMU Extends Perfect ACC Road Record Sunday's victory continued SMU's impressive performance away from home. The Mustangs improved to 7-1 in road matches and 5-0 in ACC road competition. SMU also earned its sixth conference sweep of the season. The victory improved the Mustangs' all-time record against Georgia Tech to 5-2, including a 3-0 mark under head coach Sam Erger. Since joining the ACC in 2024, SMU has compiled a 41-9 conference record under Erger. The Mustangs' ability to close competitive sets has become an important part of their success against conference opponents. For Georgia Tech, the defeat represented another difficult result against nationally ranked competition. What's Next for SMU and Georgia Tech? SMU continues its road schedule Friday, October 30, when it visits NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with coverage available on ACCNX. Georgia Tech travels to face Notre Dame and No. 3 Louisville in its next conference matchups. For SMU, Davis' double-double, Placide's efficient attacking and Beauford's all-around leadership combined to deliver another important ACC victory. The Mustangs remain unbeaten in conference road matches after overcoming Georgia Tech's resistance in a competitive three-set contest.

ATLANTA, Ga. — Boston College delivered a dominant rushing performance Saturday, October 24, defeating Georgia Tech 49-27 at Bobby Dodd Stadium behind five combined rushing touchdowns from quarterback Mason McKenzie and running back Bo MacCormack III. McKenzie rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while MacCormack added 155 yards and three scores on 20 carries. Together, they accounted for 325 of Boston College's 399 rushing yards. The Eagles improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, earning their second consecutive conference victory and first road win of the season. Georgia Tech dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the ACC after surrendering 37 second-half points. Mason McKenzie and Bo MacCormack Dominate Georgia Tech Boston College relied on a powerful ground attack to overcome an early deficit. McKenzie repeatedly exploited openings in Georgia Tech's defense, finishing with 170 rushing yards while completing 9 of 17 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. MacCormack delivered the most productive rushing performance of his Boston College career, scoring three touchdowns and averaging 7.8 yards per carry. The sophomore stepped into a larger role following a season-ending knee injury to starting running back Evan Dickens. Boston College finished with 500 total offensive yards, including 399 on the ground. The Eagles' offensive line also provided strong protection, allowing just one sack throughout the afternoon. Georgia Tech Builds Early 10-0 Lead Georgia Tech opened the game with an impressive eight-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza connected with tight end Kevin Roche Jr. for a four-yard touchdown, giving the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 advantage. Georgia Tech extended its lead to 10-0 with a field goal on its second possession. Boston College struggled initially, missing a 47-yard field goal attempt before finding its offensive rhythm in the second quarter. McKenzie connected with Nedrick Boldin Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown pass, cutting Georgia Tech's lead to 10-6 after a missed extra point. The reception marked Boldin's first collegiate touchdown. MacCormack then scored on a seven-yard rushing touchdown, giving Boston College a 12-10 advantage. However, another missed extra point prevented the Eagles from extending their lead. Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr converted a 20-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining, sending the Yellow Jackets into halftime ahead 13-12. Boston College Takes Control in Third Quarter The Eagles completely changed the game's momentum after halftime. McKenzie opened the third quarter with a spectacular 40-yard run, setting up MacCormack's two-yard touchdown. The score gave Boston College an 18-13 advantage. Georgia Tech's next possession ended with a costly turnover. Defensive back Charlie Comella intercepted Mendoza and returned the football 23 yards, giving Boston College favorable field position. McKenzie capitalized with a six-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Eagles' lead to 25-13. Kicker Luca Lombardo later converted a 23-yard field goal, pushing Boston College ahead 28-13. Georgia Tech briefly responded when Justice Haynes scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown, reducing the deficit to 28-20. However, Boston College's rushing attack continued overwhelming the Yellow Jackets. McKenzie scored his second rushing touchdown on a 15-yard run, restoring a 35-20 advantage. Charlie Comella Records Two Interceptions and Defensive Touchdown Boston College's defense delivered another decisive moment when Comella intercepted Mendoza for the second time. The defensive back returned the interception 47 yards for a touchdown, extending Boston College's lead to 42-20. Comella finished with five tackles and two interceptions, producing one of the Eagles' strongest individual defensive performances of the season. His first interception helped create a short scoring opportunity, while his second directly resulted in seven points. Linebacker Anthony Palano led Boston College with nine tackles and one sack. London Upton contributed six tackles, while KP Price and Caleb Davis recorded five each. The Eagles also limited Georgia Tech to just 101 rushing yards, preventing the Yellow Jackets from establishing a consistent ground attack. Comella's performance earned him ACC Defensive Back of the Week recognition. Bo MacCormack Completes Three-Touchdown Performance Georgia Tech continued competing after falling behind by 22 points. Backup quarterback Grady Adamson connected with Dalen Penson for a 30-yard touchdown pass, reducing Boston College's advantage to 42-27. However, the Eagles responded with another rushing touchdown. MacCormack scored from 19 yards, completing his three-touchdown performance and establishing the final 49-27 margin. His 155 rushing yards exceeded his combined production across his previous 13 games with Boston College. The performance demonstrated the Eagles' offensive depth following Dickens' injury. MacCormack was subsequently named ACC Running Back of the Week. Offensive lineman Veguer Jean-Jumeau also received ACC weekly recognition after helping Boston College produce its dominant rushing performance. Georgia Tech Struggles Despite Alberto Mendoza's Effort Mendoza completed 17 of 24 passes for 186 yards before being replaced late in the game. Adamson provided a late offensive spark, completing seven of nine passes for 73 yards and one touchdown. However, Georgia Tech struggled to protect the football and contain Boston College's rushing attack. The Yellow Jackets entered halftime leading by one point but could not maintain their defensive effectiveness. Head coach Brent Key acknowledged the team's broader struggles following another disappointing result. Georgia Tech has now lost nine of its previous 12 games after beginning the 2025 season with eight consecutive victories. Boston College Builds Momentum in ACC Competition Saturday's victory represented another important step forward for Boston College. The Eagles have already doubled their two-win total from the 2025 season. They also secured their second consecutive ACC victory after defeating Pittsburgh 27-21 the previous week. Both wins required Boston College to overcome early double-digit deficits. At 4-3, the Eagles need two additional victories to reach the six-win benchmark typically required for bowl eligibility. Their improving rushing attack and timely defensive turnovers could prove important during the final stretch of conference play. What's Next for Boston College and Georgia Tech? Boston College travels to face Duke on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET on The CW. Georgia Tech visits Pittsburgh on October 31, looking to end its recent struggles. For Boston College, McKenzie's 170 rushing yards, MacCormack's three touchdowns and Comella's two interceptions combined to produce a convincing ACC road victory. The Eagles' 399 rushing yards and explosive second-half performance demonstrated their growing offensive confidence as the 2026 season continues.