Normally, staying home during the playoffs means a long off-season, but not for Florida A&M. The NCAA announced Sunday that the Rattlers have earned the #2 seed in the Tallahassee subregional of the Division I playoffs.
The trip will be across town at Tully Gymnasium on the campus of host Florida State Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. when they take on Ohio Valley Conference champion Jacksonville State (26-7).
The Rattlers (17-9) are making their ninth consecutive trip to the playoffs and hope to avoid being sent home for the eighth time (they advanced to regional play just once, in 2003, when they beat Georgia Tech). But, the playoffs haven't been kind to Florida teams. Host Florida State (28-2), ranked no. 2 nationally, is 1-10 in the subregional round.
Actually, this is the second time that they will play in Tallahassee. They hosted the 2004 subregional at Gaither Gymnasium. Overall, this will be their sixth subregional in Florida, the other times being in Gainesville in 2001 and 2005-08.
The #2 seeding for the Rattlers is their highest in the subregional round under head coach Tony Trifonov. Trifonov has guided FAMU to a match record of 270-110 during his tenure. The Rattlers are an astounding 122-3 in MEAC play in that time.
They will be led by MEAC Player of the Year Jovana Blazeski, who led the conference and tenth in the nations in kills per set at 4.61. She also averaged 3.04 digs and 5.05 points per set, had 16 double-doubles and six 20-plus kill games.
She'll be joined by all-conference first teamers Jessica Bond and Susa Egoavil and also senior Maria Gomez.
The subregional final will be Sunday. The winner of the subregional will move on to the regionals Dec. 11-12 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Playoff semifinals and finals will be Dec. 17 and 19 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.
Tickets can be purchased directly at Tully Gymnasium or online at www.seminoles.com.
For more information on the playoffs, go to: www.ncaa.com/wvb.
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