No. 15 Florida’s dynamic duo downs Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 15th-rated Florida volleyball group defeated the Tennessee Lady Vols in four sets on Wednesday evening in Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Gators increase to 11-3 on the year and 3-1 in the meeting, although Tennessee falls to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in the league.

Florida took the 1st established in extras, grabbing the 26-24 victory to choose the early match guide. The Gators followed with a 25-23 win in the 2nd set, but the Woman Vols answered with a 25-16 gain in the 3rd body. Florida closed out the match with a 25-20 victory in the fourth.

Marina Markova led the way for Florida on Wednesday night time, securing the 17-eliminate overall performance in the match – a Florida-best for the senior. Sofia Victoria adopted shut behind with 12 kills, even though Gabrielle Essix pitched in eight in the 4-setter.

Merritt Beason (7) and Bre Kelley (6) combined for 13 kills on the evening.

Alexis Stucky dished out 43 helps in the match, foremost the crew to a .275 clip.

As a team, Florida tallied seven blocks on the evening, led by a crew-significant five from Kelley. Beason additional a few, though Essix posted two in the victory.

Elli McKissock paced the backcourt protection, coming up with the 12-dig work. Beason and Stucky every pitched in 10 digs in the victory.

McKissock also direct the way powering the provider line, recording a workforce-significant 3 assistance aces in the match.

Florida returns to Exactech Arena for a two-match collection against LSU commencing on Saturday. Initial serve for Saturday’s matchup is established for 6 p.m., although Sunday’s match is slated for a 3 p.m. start time.

Records
No. 15 Florida (11-3, 3-1 SEC)
Tennessee (8-8, 2-2 SEC)

How It Happened

• After slipping powering 2- early, the Gators went on a 4- run thanks in portion to a McKissock provider run to get the 4-2 edge. The groups ongoing to trade factors through the middle of the established, but the Gators won the fight to the media timeout, using the 15-12 guide into the split. Out of the timeout, Florida took the four-point direct, but the Girl Vols pulled back to inside of a single just after a 3- operate. The Gators continued to hold Tennessee at bay, taking the 21-18 direct to power a UT timeout. The Lady Vols utilized a 4-1 operate out of that timeout to knot the set at 22-all and although it took additional details, Florida held on for the 26-24 victory to start out the match.
• Four distinct Gators racked up 3 kills in the initially established: Kelley, Essix, Markova and Beason.
• Tennessee once yet again took the early direct in the second set, but the Gators battled back again with a 3- run to just take the 4-3 direct. It was a back-and-forth frame by way of the center of the set, but Florida utilized a 4- run behind the serves of McKissock to acquire the 19-15 lead and pressure a timeout by the Lady Vols. Tennessee fought back to tie the frame 23-23, creating Florida to get in touch with its 2nd timeout of the set. Out of the crack, Markova recorded again-to-back kills to safe the 25-23 win for Florida.
• UF strike .444 in the second set, led by 5 kills from Markova and Victoria. Essix included three kills of her possess, followed by Kelley’s two.
• With the Gators down one particular at the 10-9 mark, Tennessee strung together a 6-3 operate to choose the 16-12 edge in the third. Florida bought back to inside two at 16-14, but the Woman Vols as soon as once again extended their lead to 4 to power a timeout by the Gators. Tennessee closed out on the frame on a 9-2 run to acquire the match to a fourth in Knoxville.
• Markova led the way with a few kills in the third body, followed by two apiece from Stucky and Victoria.
• The fourth established saw the two groups tied early, but Tennessee pulled forward a few to choose the 11-8 guide. Florida pulled back to within a single at 14-13, but the Girl Vols took the 15-13 benefit into the media timeout. Following the crack, the Gators battled back with a 4- operate to take the 17-16 direct. UF would not search again the rest of the match, using the established 25-20 to shift to 11-3 on the 12 months.
• Florida strike .371 in the final frame, led by six kills from Markova. Victoria extra five kills, though Beason posted 4.

Notables

• Alexis Stucky recorded her 3rd double-double of the year with 43 helps and 10 digs
• The Gators increase to 55-13 in the all-time collection, which includes a 51-8 history beneath Mary Sensible
• Florida is now 12-4 versus Tennessee in 4-set matches
• The Gators enhance to 26-5 in opposition to Tennessee in Knoxville
• UF increases to 4-1 in 4-set matches in the course of the 2022 marketing campaign

Thoughts from Coach Wise
“At different points in the match, we had different persons action up and we observed a way.”

Up Subsequent

• The Gators return to Exactech Arena for a two-match sequence versus the LSU Tigers starting on Saturday
• Saturday’s very first serve is slated for 6 p.m. on SEC Community +
• Sunday’s match is set to start off at 3 p.m., also on SEC Community +