It took four sets for the seniors on the Florida Gators Volleyball team to capture their last victory at the O’Connell Center. Stellar performances from senior AC Fitzpatrick and freshman Kennedy Martin helped the Gators improve to 18-8 on the season and 10-7 in the SEC.
A total of six seniors were honored for UF: Anna Dixon, Sofia Victoria, Elli McKissock, Nnedi Okammor and Sofia Victoria and Kennedy Muff.
The 20th-ranked Gators used the energy provided by senior night to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. Florida secured a commanding 25-16 win in the first set followed by a 25-20 victory in the second set.
The Gamecocks responded with a 25-22 win to push to a fourth set before the Gators secured the match 3-1 after a 25-17 victory sealed the match.
Martin led the way offensively posting a team-high 26 kills. Fitzpatrick followed her lead with 14 kills and Victoria rounded out the Gators attack with nine respectively. Martin has now tallied the most kills by a freshman in Florida Gators Volleyball program history with 443.
Muff had an elite performance dishing out 54 assists and leading UF to a .341 offensive clip. The fifth year facilitated the offense Wednesday at a high level and also contributed eight digs on the defensive side.
The Gators posted 15 total blocks as a team. Florida had three or more players finish with five blocks or more. Okammor led the way with eight followed by Gabrielle Essix who recorded seven. Martin flashed her skills at the net as well while tallying five in the four-setter.
McKissock roamed the backcourt for Florida with 20 digs. Emily Canaan helped hold down the defensive side of the net with 11 digs and Trinity Adams complimented the backcourt with 9 of her own.
Florida totaled seven aces as a team in the match with McKissock and Victoria with two apiece, while Adams, Martin and Muff each had one.
The Gators conclude their regular season schedule on the road against Kentucky. The team will travel to Lexington to battle the Wildcats on Saturday. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. and will be available on SEC+.
ChompTalk.com 
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