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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Here’s what’s inside today’s edition:

🏐 Noles Roll Again — Volleyball sweeps its homestand, taking down Georgia State behind a career night from Nenu Kpea.

🎾 Fall Tennis Slates Set — Both men’s and women’s teams reveal packed schedules featuring top national tournaments and home events.

🏀 Recruiting Update — FSU hoops already has the No. 1 class in 2026, but Luke Loucks and staff are still pushing for select high-upside pieces.

❤️ Positive Step for Ethan Pritchard — Freshman LB shows progress in recovery after August’s tragic shooting, with Norvell sharing emotional updates.

🔄 Coaching Firings = Recruiting Opportunities — UCLA and Virginia Tech shakeups have FSU circling multiple four-star prospects.

👀 Tony White Watch — UCLA’s coaching vacancy immediately links FSU’s DC back to his alma mater.

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🏐 Noles Handle Georgia State for 2nd Straight Win 🏐

Florida State volleyball (5–3) kept rolling in Tully Gym, knocking off Georgia State (7–2) in four sets (25–14, 21–25, 25–18, 25–16) on Monday night to sweep its two-match homestand.

🔥 Match Flow

• Set 1: FSU dominated early, hitting .344 while holding the Panthers to .000 in a 25–14 rout.

• Set 2: Georgia State jumped out 11–3 and held on despite a late FSU rally, tying the match 25–21.

• Set 3: Noles broke open a 10–9 deficit with a 7–0 run, closing it out 25–18 to regain control.

• Set 4: FSU stormed ahead 12–4 behind three straight Nenu Kpea kills, cruising to a 25–16 clincher.

🌟 Standouts

• Nenu Kpea: Season-best 13 kills on .565 hitting + 8 blocks.

• Iane Henke: Added 12 kills, extending her hot streak.

• Kyleene Filimaua: 8 kills, 5 digs, 4 aces, 3 blocks — all-around impact.

• Mio Yamamoto: Team-high 12 digs anchoring the back row.

⏭️ What’s Next
The Noles hit the road Saturday at Georgia Southern (2 p.m., ESPN+).

👉 Full recap on the win here

🎾 FSU Men’s Tennis Unveils Fall Slate 🎾

Florida State men’s tennis announced its 2025–26 fall schedule on Monday, highlighted by marquee events across the region and several home tournaments.

📅 Key Dates

• Sept. 20–28 — Season opens at ITA All-American Championships (Tulsa, OK).

• Sept. 26–28 — Hosts annual Bedford Cup (Tallahassee).

• Oct. 9–13 — Regionals in Gainesville (pathway to NCAA Individuals).

• Oct. 24–26 — Crimson Tide Fall Challenge (Tuscaloosa, AL).

• Nov. 6–9 — Battle of the Beaches (Destin) + ITA South Sectionals (Athens, GA).

• Nov. 17–23 — ITF Tallahassee Futures (Indoor Courts).

• Dec. 1–7 — PTT Tournament (Indoor Courts).

🌟 Roster Notes

• Six returnees headline the squad.

• Newcomers: Mohammad Alkotop (Jordan), Luis Felipe Miguel (Brazil), Gabriele Brancatelli (grad transfer), and freshman Oren Ezezer.

• Rankings: Corey Craig enters at No. 8 in singles, plus three doubles pairings ranked top-100.

👉 Full schedule and roster breakdown here

🎾 Women’s Tennis Releases Fall Schedule 🎾

Florida State women’s tennis announced its 2025 fall slate on Monday, featuring top national and regional tournaments across the country.

📅 Key Dates

• Sept. 20–27 — ITA All-American Championships (Cary, NC).

• Oct. 3–5 — Bedford Cup (Jacksonville).

• Oct. 16–20 — ITA Southeast Regional Championships (Orlando).

• Nov. 6–9 — ITA Conference Masters (San Diego, CA).

• Nov. 7–9 — UNF Invitational (Jacksonville) + ITA Sectionals (Baton Rouge, LA).

• Nov. 18 — NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships (Orlando).

🌟 Roster Notes

• Seven returnees plus two freshmen.

• Eva Shaw: returning All-ACC standout, ITA Southeast Most Improved Player.

• Millie Bissett & Maria Juliana Parra Romero: doubles pair with proven success at ITA events.

• Rankings: Shaw & Bissett enter fall ranked No. 35 in doubles.

👉 Full schedule and roster details here

🏀 Hoops Recruiting Update: No. 1 Class in 2026 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball already owns the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation with four pledges — ⭐⭐⭐⭐ C Marcis Ponder, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ PF Collin Paul, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ SG Brandon Bass Jr., and ⭐⭐⭐ PG Jasen Lopez (a two-sport commit).

🔥 Who’s Still on the Board

• Gage Mayfield (SF, 4⭐) — Visited FSU in August. Has also seen Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and will visit Michigan this weekend. Decision expected soon after.

• Kevin Thomas (SF, 4⭐) — Will visit Miami (late Sept.) and Auburn (mid-Oct.). No clear decision timeline yet, but FSU remains in the mix.

🚫 Visits Canceled
FSU trimmed its board after multiple commitments, canceling visits for PF Joe Philon, PF twins Gavin & Gallagher Placide, SF Alex Egbuonu, and SF Herly Brutus.

👀 Upcoming Target

• Abdou Toure (SF, 4⭐) — Set for an official visit Oct. 17. Has already seen Providence and Arkansas; also considering Louisville, Maryland, Oregon, and UConn.

💡 Why It Matters
Loucks and staff aren’t just stacking talent — they’re being selective down the stretch. With the foundation of a No. 1 class secured, any late additions will be high-upside, handpicked fits for the roster.

👉 Full recruiting breakdown here

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❤️ Positive Update on Ethan Pritchard ❤️

Freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who was tragically shot in Havana, Fla. on Aug. 31, showed a sign of progress over the weekend — he opened his eyes on Sunday morning for the first time since the incident.

🔥 Coach Norvell’s Words

• “Yesterday, he opened his eyes. It was something that was emotional for everybody, to be honest with you.”

• Norvell emphasized there are still “major steps along the way,” but praised Ethan’s fight and his family’s strength.

• He shared the news with the team: “I probably had one of the biggest smiles on my face… to see their reaction for this young man… he’s part of their family.”

💡 Bigger Picture
Norvell spoke about the fragility of life and the importance of empathy: “We’re called on this earth to love one another… the value of life and the appreciation of what we’re able to do is special.”

👉 Read more on Pritchard’s recovery here

🔄 Coaching Firings Shake Up Recruiting — FSU in the Mix 🔄

The dismissals of UCLA’s DeShaun Foster and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry on Sunday left both programs’ recruiting classes in flux — and Florida State is quickly moving to capitalize. The Seminoles, who already hold the nation’s No. 13 class for 2026, are actively pursuing multiple recent decommits and wavering pledges.

🔥 Targets in Play

• OT Johnnie Jones (Venice, FL) — Former UCLA commit; FSU hosted him on an OV this summer and has never lost touch. Decommitted Sunday, with Tallahassee looking to get him back on campus soon.

• DL Yahya Gaad (Medina, TN) — 3⭐ prospect, also a former Bruin commit. Already locked in to visit FSU this weekend for the Kent State game. Versatile fit in Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense.

• OT Thomas Wilder (Virginia Beach, VA) — 4⭐ offensive tackle, decommitted from VT after Pry’s firing. Penn State and Maryland remain factors, but FSU has entered the mix.

• DL David Schwerzel (Seattle, WA) — 4⭐ lineman who just left UCLA’s class. Confirmed FSU has reached out and invited him to a game visit. Strong, versatile defender with multi-sport pedigree.

• EDGE Andrew Rogers (Greensboro, NC) — 3⭐ pass rusher, Virginia Tech commit who recently reclassified from 2027 to 2026. Tennessee has buzz, but FSU is working to line up a visit later this fall.

🌟 Why It Matters
Instability creates opportunity, and the Seminoles are positioning themselves as a safe landing spot for top talent shaken loose by early-season firings.

👉 Read the full recruiting breakdown here

👀 Tony White’s Name Surfaces in UCLA Coaching Search 👀

UCLA’s firing of head coach DeShaun Foster after just two games has Seminole fans watching closely — because defensive coordinator Tony White is expected to be on the Bruins’ radar.

🔥 Why the Buzz

• White is a UCLA alum who actually interviewed for the same job during the Bruins’ chaotic 2024 search.

• Since then, he’s boosted his résumé with stops at Nebraska and now FSU, where his 3-3-5 scheme has quickly transformed the defense.

• Reports say he’d “absolutely take the job if offered.”

🧠 Bigger Picture
While UCLA’s financial hurdles and appetite for another alum hire are question marks, White’s rise is a reminder: when your assistants are coveted, it’s usually a sign your program is thriving.

🎙️ Norvell’s Take
Mike Norvell downplayed any concern, emphasizing support for his staff’s career growth:

🌟 Why It Matters
White will keep showing up on hot boards if FSU’s defense stays sharp — and while that could mean turnover, it also means the program’s culture is being noticed nationally.

👉 Full context on White’s UCLA connection here

And that’s a wrap!

Between volleyball’s back-to-back wins, both tennis programs gearing up for fall competition, and recruiting chaos around the country opening new doors, the momentum in Tallahassee is hard to miss. Even with Tony White’s name buzzing nationally, the takeaway is clear: FSU is on the rise, and the country is noticing.

Catch you tomorrow, Chief Nation. 🍢