The Florida Gators volleyball team returned to the friendly confines of Exactech Arena on Wednesday and swept the Arkansas Razorbacks in the team’s penultimate regular season contest.
Florida is now 24-4 overall and are tied with Kentucky at 15-2 atop the SEC standings.
How it happened
Set 1:
Florida took set one by a 25-17 count despite trailing 12-7. A 13-5 run by the Gators closed out the opening set.
Florida hit .250 in the set, but more impressively limited the Razorbacks to just a -.032 hitting mark, with six errors to five kills offensively.
Set 2:
The second set was much more of a back and forth affair. Despite tying the score five times, Arkansas was never able to grasp a lead and Florida took the set 25-21.
Set two saw the Gators net 10 kills to only a pair of errors for a hitting clip of .364. The Razorbacks made ten errors on 35 swings.
Set 3:
Florida jumped out to a 22-9 lead with relative ease in the third set. A pair of successful challenges by Mary Wise put the Gators at match point, but Arkansas went on a 4-0 run before a Marlie Monserez block completed the sweep.
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Statistically speaking
Once again, Florida’s defense led to a big night offensively. The Gators recorded 13 blocks, led by Lauren Dooley who recorded five. Rachael Kramer, Paige Hammons, and Holly Carlton each added four.
Offensively, Kramer led the attack with ten kills on 14 swings for a .643 hitting percentage. Hammons posted seven kills on her 11 swings without an error for a .636 mark.
Monserez finished with 28 assists and Florida recorded seven service aces, led by Hammons with three.
What’s next
Florida hosts Texas A&M on Saturday at 4:00 PM. The senior class will be honored before the contest. The Gators are 16-1 all-time against the Aggies.