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WRs help with balance

TALLAHASSEE -- After a sluggish start, Florida State's receivers are starting to perform as many predicted.

"We are starting to come around," senior Robert Morgan said. "It's time to start picking it up."

The No. 4-ranked Seminoles are entering a difficult stretch with tonight's trip to Louisville and will need their passing game at its best. Often in the opening weeks, the receivers dropped balls. Not of late.

Junior Anquan Boldin had 12 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown each against Maryland and Duke.

Senior Talman Gardner, limited to one catch for 12 yards in his first two games, had a highlight-show touchdown catch against Maryland and another touchdown against Duke.

Morgan, healthier after bruising his chest against Virginia, had his first touchdown of the season against the Blue Devils.

Sophomore P.K. Sam had seven catches for 96 yards against Duke, and fellow sophomore Craphonso Thorpe, potentially the team's top big-play threat who was slowed earlier by a toe injury, had three receptions for 70 yards and a score Saturday.

"It's just a result of what we do on the practice field," Boldin said. "It's showing up in the games."

FRESHMAN IMPACT: The women's soccer team is a veteran bunch, but coach Patrick Baker's freshman class is contributing mightily. Especially forward Leah Gallegos, who leads the team in scoring with four goals and two assists.

"I'm just working my hardest," Gallegos said.

She has transformed the Seminoles offense. Gallegos, 5 feet 7, has the skill and strength to serve as a target, capable of receiving and holding the ball and either setting up teammates for scoring chances or taking on defenders herself.

"It's so important to have someone who can do that," USF coach Logan Fleck said after Sunday's 3-2 loss to FSU, a game in which Gallegos had an assist. "That gives them an added edge. And she has the potential to be a great scorer."

Gallegos had three goals in her first ACC game Friday, an overtime win against Clemson.

"I was so excited I was still shaking (on Saturday); now I just want more," she said.

The Seminoles (5-2-2) could use that when rival Florida visits Friday. The Gators lead the series 6-2, but lost their last game in Tallahassee.

"Leah kind of gives us a three-head monster up front with Cindy (Schofield) and Jez (Ratliff), who we can put wide when Leah is in there," Baker said. "She's added a lot."

ACC START: The volleyball team, coming off a loss at Florida, opens league play with home matches against Wake Forest on Friday and Duke on Saturday.

SERVING NOTICE: Women's tennis standout Anca Dumitrescu, a junior from Bucharest, Romania, who went 22-12 playing No. 1 singles last year, drew a No. 35 preseason ranking. FSU opens the fall schedule Friday-Sunday with the Seminole Classic.

ACADEMIC HONOR: Men's basketball players Michael Joiner and Anthony Richardson were named to the 2002 All-ACC academic team. Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest were the only other schools with multiple representation.

-- Brian Landman covers Florida State athletics. He can be reached at (813) 226-3347 or by e-mail at landman@sptimes.com

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