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Hello, my name is Griffin Foll. I graduated from the University of Florida in August 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a specialization in sports and media. I am passionate about my writing and reporting, and I hope you enjoy my personal website. Welcome!
  • VB: Gators Sweep Opening Weekend as Wise Earns 900th Win

    VB: Gators Sweep Opening Weekend as Wise Earns 900th Win

    Photo by Tim Nwachukwu | Getty Images

    No. 6 Florida captured nine straight sets on Friday and Saturday at the Hornet Invitational in Sacramento, Calif., to start the season 3-0 for the 24th time in program history.

    Head coach Mary Wise earned her 900th career win at UF following the Gators’ decisive victory over UC Davis Saturday. Wise joins former Texas State head coach Karen Chisum as the only female coaches in Division I history to notch 900 wins at one school.

    Game 1 (Friday)

    Florida Gators: 25-25-25

    San Francisco: 10-12-12

    Florida won the first seven points of the match and refused to pump the brakes. Six different Gators served an ace led by sophomores Sofia Victoria and Elli McKissock (3 each). Eight different Gators recorded at least one kill at a .491 team clip, while San Francisco recorded a negative hitting efficiency (-.041). Senior setter Marlie Monserez displayed her versatility with 25 assists, eight digs, two blocks, an ace and four kills at a .800 clip.

    Game 2 (Saturday)

    Florida: 25-25-25

    UC Davis: 21-11-18

    UC Davis kept the first set interesting until Florida stole the final three points to prevail. The Gators cruised through the second set after they held UC Davis to only five kills on 25 attempts including eight errors. Senior outside hitter Thayer Hall led Florida with 11 kills on 22 attempts and added eight digs on the defensive end. Hall notched four kills in the final set and delivered the match point via Monserez’s 29th assist.

    Game 3 (Saturday)

    Florida Gators: 25-25-25

    Sacramento State: 14-17-20

    The Gators jumped out to an early 11-2 advantage en route to a commanding opening set victory. Florida freshman Merritt Beason scored three of the match’s first four points via kills. Hall and redshirt senior T’ara Ceasar combined for the majority of Florida’s kills (22 out of 43). The Gators committed just five errors on 92 attempts and held Sacramento State under a .100 hitting efficiency.

    Individual Stat Leaders

    Aces

    McKissock: 5

    Ceasar: 4

    Kills

    Ceasar: 28

    Hall: 25

    Beason: 21

    Assists

    Monserez: 86

    McKissock: 12

    Digs

    McKissock: 29

    Monserez: 24

    Total Blocks

    Forte: 14

    Monserez: 10

    Next Up

    The Gators will stay on the west coast for one more match as they prepare to face No. 21 Stanford Tuesday night at 8 ET.

  • Gators Volleyball Season Preview

    Gators Volleyball Season Preview

    Photo by Benjamin Fox | ChompTalk.com

    No. 6 Florida volleyball will kick off its 2021 season Friday in Sacramento, Calif., at the Hornet Invitational. The Gators will face San Francisco at 7 ahead of a Saturday double header against UC Davis and Sacramento State.

    Florida’s home opener is scheduled for Sept. 5 against Minnesota and will air on ESPNU. The Gators will start conference play on Sept. 23 versus Mississippi State.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsVB/status/1408062432962965510?s=20

    Florida finished an unprecedented 2020-21 season with a 21-3 record before it ultimately fell to No. 1 Wisconsin in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals.

    Mary Wise enters her 31st season as Florida’s head coach and her team ranks behind only No. 3 Kentucky among SEC schools. Since Wise arrived at UF in 1991, no other team in the country has won as many matches as the Gators (898).

    Despite losing four seniors to graduation last spring, Florida returns five seniors and four sophomores to the court this fall. In fact, the Gators led the SEC with four players — middle blocker Lauren Forte, setter Marlie Monserez, and outside hitters T’ara Ceasar and Thayer Hall — on the Preseason All-Conference Team.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsVB/status/1428009037853913091?s=20

    “[Monserez] is playing with such a high level of confidence and she makes every hitter in our gym better because of how she delivers the ball,” Wise said.

    Florida welcomes four freshmen to the roster: defensive specialist Trinity Adams, outside hitter Merritt Beason, and middle blockers Gabrielle Essix and Bre Kelley.

  • SOC: Gators fall to No. 19 UCF, 2-0

    SOC: Gators fall to No. 19 UCF, 2-0

    Tony Amato and the Florida Gators’ search for offense resumed on Thursday night as UCF traveled to Gainesville and claimed a 2-0 victory.

    In the first minute of action, Kouri Peace found herself with the opportunity to give the Gators an early lead. Her first of two shots would be saved by UCF goalie Caroline DeLisle, reigning AAC Goalkeeper of the Week, the second by a defender.

    Florida continued to control early and maintain pressure, with five shots in the first seven minutes of action.

    “Our game plan was to jump on them early,” Hall said. “Obviously we did that, we just have to execute at this point.”

    UCF quickly turned the tides when a miscommunication between Goldberg and the back line allowed for Trescott Shamlou to find the back of the net for her first goal of the season. 

    Leskauskas made her presence felt as she was able to get a shot past DeLisle in the 28th minute. However, the Gators celebration was short lived when the goal was called back for an offside.

    A foul from Cameron Hall in the box allowed for Darya Rajaee to have a shot at her fifth point in two games. Rajaee sent the ball to the lower left quarter of the net. Goldberg was unable to extend to the ball. The Knights found themselves with a 2-0 lead at half.

    The Gators had their chances to find the scoreboard in the first. Florida outshot UCF 9-3 in the half and kept the ball on the opposing end of the field often. 

    “At the end of the day, you’ve got to finish one of those and then the game changes,” Amato said “We were putting them under enough pressure and creating chances…the final shot just wasn’t there for us and we’re going to have to work on that.”

    The second half was quiet for both sides. The Gators took three shots, two came on goal.

    Florida will resume their pursuit of their first win of the season Sunday at 1 P.M. in the final game of this three game homestand.

  • SOC: Goldberg, Loferski Lead Gators to 1-1 Draw vs Texas

    SOC: Goldberg, Loferski Lead Gators to 1-1 Draw vs Texas

    Photo by Benjamin Fox | ChompTalk.com

    In the waning minutes of Sunday’s match, the Longhorns looked poised to take a commanding 2-0 lead. However, sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg saved the day with a goal line stop on a 3-on-1 Texas attack before initiating the Florida offense on the other end.

    It didn’t take long for the momentum to carry over as Florida attacker Kit Loferski found the back of the net to level the score with three minutes remaining in regulation.

    “(Alexa) has really set herself up to (make saves) with her positioning,” head coach Tony Amato mentioned of his goalkeeper’s performance.

    The Gators found themselves down 1-0 after fifteen minutes when the Longhorns scored on a Carlee Allen header off a set piece.

    Despite being down, Florida continued to pursue the tying goal and had several opportunities throughout the remainder of the match. Nicole Vernis and Loferski had a few chances before the latter connected with her left foot. The Gators also had the stellar play of Goldberg keeping Texas at a single tally.

    Following regulation, two additional periods of play resulted with no score. Amato’s home debut would result in a resilient, come from behind tie, but nothing more.

    The Gators’ new head coach will have the opportunity to earn his first win in the orange and blue on Thursday when UCF comes to town. The game is set to kickoff at 7:00 PM from Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

  • Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille: A Must-Do for Gators Fans

    Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille: A Must-Do for Gators Fans

    Good drinks, steaks with a side of football shrine

    Photo via @SpurriersGG | Twitter

    The Gainesville entertainment center known as Celebration Pointe is thriving this week after welcoming a new restaurant that doubles as a Florida Gators football shrine.

    Former national champion and Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier cut the ribbon to Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille this week and opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

    With a full kitchen and bar menu, the Gridiron Grille has plenty to offer for more than just Florida football fans. 

    Casual diners can enjoy appetizers like the Orange & Blue Shrimp, cheesy rolls or even the delectable cooked cauliflower while sipping on a hoppy 52-20 Pale Ale beer (properly named after the Gators annihilation of FSU in 1996).

    The dish nicknames are full of similar puns that Florida football fans can chuckle at while reading the large menu, which has a cover made from the same material as a football. The chicken and waffle sandwich is properly named the “Chicken & Wuerffel,” after another UF Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel.

    The meat in the Short Rib and Mushroom Risotto fell apart with ease and mixed perfectly with the flavors of the risotto and beef demi-glacé.

    Spurrier’s Bacon Cheeseburger also looked mouth-watering with both bacon and fresh brisket stacked on top of a grilled patty.

    There’s a monstrous display in the middle of the dining area with Spurrier’s Heisman and all of his rings including the 1996 national and SEC championship. The head ball coach even included his ring from his shortened stint in the Alliance of American Football with the Orlando Apollos. 

    Although the Apollos didn’t officially win a championship, the team still had the best record in the now-disbanded league.

    Also included in the restaurant is several walls of fame. One wall in the back room has keys to cities including Tampa and Gainesville plus a wall dedicated to the many visors that coach has donned over his long career.

    Overall, anyone can enjoy the atmosphere provided by Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille whether they’re watching sports or spending an evening with their significant other. Everything on the menu will fill you up before visiting elsewhere in Celebration Pointe.

  • SOC: Gators Drop Season Opener at USF, 2-1

    SOC: Gators Drop Season Opener at USF, 2-1

    Photo by Benjamin Fox | ChompTalk.com

    The first competition of the 2021-22 athletic calendar is complete and, unfortunately for the Gators, has resulted in the first loss for a Florida program.

    The Gators soccer program dropped a 2-1 decision in Tampa against the No. 20 South Florida Bulls on Thursday in a match that also kicked off the Tony Amato era. Amato became just the second head coach to roam the sidelines for the UF soccer team.

    The defending American Athletic Confernce champions dominated possession and fired fifteen shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg made thirteen saves, including a few that were highlight-reel worthy, but it wasn’t enough on this day.

    The Bulls found twine first as Chloe Zamiela sent a shot to the right side of the net, just beyond Goldberg’s reach.

    Florida was able to equalize things almost immediately after the halftime break as Kit Loferski scored Florida’s first goal of 2021 at the 47-minute mark. Of her goal, the graduated Gator remarked, ” Cece (Price) … played a perfect … ball, (I) saw the keeper off the line. I honestly hoped the best on my shot.”

    The momentum, however, was short lived. In the 50th minute, a scramble in front of Goldberg gave USF several opportunities and the Bulls finally capitalized on their third shot attempt of the sequence. Madeline Penman-Derstine was credited with the eventual game winner.

    The Gators finished with just four shot attempts in the match and mounted very little pressure offensively. Amato stated, “there are a lot of things we need to work on, we are still trying to figure it out.”

    Goldberg’s thirteen saves are the second most by a Florida keeper in program history and the most in two decades (16, Jordan Kellgren, 2001).

    Florida will look to right the ship with Sunday’s home opener against Texas on Sunday. The game is set to kickoff at noon. The Longhorns dropped a 4-0 contest to UCF on Thursday.

  • Linebacker E.J. Lightsey commits to Florida

    Linebacker E.J. Lightsey commits to Florida

    Three-star linebacker joins the 2022 recruiting class

    Photo by Zach Blostein | Getty Images

    The Florida Gators have landed a steal from the Peach State.

    Three-star linebacker E.J. Lightsey has made his commitment to the University of Florida to compete with Dan Mullen’s defense in 2022. Lightsey is the twelfth commit for the UF 2022 recruiting class and is the fifth three-star pick up.

    The Georgia native made his announcement video post on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/EjLightsey8/status/1427298223899779075?s=20

    The linebacker had been on the fence for most of the summer but Florida had always been in his line of sight.

    Lightsey said he was captivated by UF’s campus on his second visit to Gainesville in June.

    “Seeing everything in person, it was everything I expected it to be,” Lightsey said. “I expected Florida to be a great place and have a great atmosphere and all that. I have watched videos on YouTube about them, so when I went there really wasn’t any differences.”

    Lightsey added that his connection with linebacker coach Christian Robinson helped the commit to make his choice. Robinson says that Lightsey should fit very nicely in the Gators defense because of his versatility.

    “He basically said he thinks I can play all of the spots they have because that is what the NFL wants,” Lightsey continued. “Someone who is versatile and can do multiple things. Basically they want me to drop into coverage and come off the edge.”

    Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 206 pounds, the multi-task linebacker will bring plenty of power that Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham craves.

    Florida football is set to kick-off on Sept. 4 with a matchup against the Florida Atlantic Owls.

  • Gators Rally For Exhibition Win Against Southern Miss

    Gators Rally For Exhibition Win Against Southern Miss

    Tony Amato records debut victory in exhibition match

    Photo by Benjamin Fox | ChompTalk.com

    The Florida Gators kicked off 2021 with a bang after achieving a comeback victory in an exhibition match with Southern Mississippi on Thursday.

    A penalty kick from substitute Madison Alexander rifled to the back of the net to give the Gators a go-ahead 2-1 lead in the 78th minute.

    Florida had to overcome an early 1-0 deficit after Southern Miss freshman Adaira Nakano booted in a right-foot shot to give the Golden Eagles an advantage.

    The Gators were behind most of the match and came back in the 67th minute. Junior forward Kouri Peace found a way to place the ball between the posts and shift the momentum back to the Florida sideline.

    Redshirt sophomore Nicole Vernis came away with an assist on the play.

    Then Alexander placed a dagger in Southern Miss’ preseason hopes with her penalty shot nine minutes later.

    The exhibition victory in Orange Beach, Alabama is Florida head coach Tony Amato’s first win with his new team. Amato took over coaching duties after former head coach Becky Burleigh announced her resignation before the 2020 season.

    Florida will open the 2021 regular season with the No. 20 South Florida Bulls in Tampa next Thursday at 7 p.m.

  • Gators Ranked No. 11 in USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll

    Gators Ranked No. 11 in USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll

    Photo by Jamie Schwaberow | Getty Images

    The first major football poll has been released with Tuesday’s announcement of the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll. The Florida Gators open the season as the No. 11 ranked team in the nation.

    Florida is the fourth highest rated team from the Southeastern Conference, behind Alabama (1), Georgia (5), and Texas A&M (6). The Gators finished with 870 points in the poll, over one hundred points behind tenth place Cincinnati.

    Florida will be tasked with replacing it’s top passer, wide receiver, and a generational talent at tight end in 2021, which may have influenced the bullish takes on the Gators entering the season.

    In total six teams from the SEC were ranked inside the Top-25 including LSU (13) and Mississippi (25).

    USA Today Preseason Coaches Top-25:

    1. Alabama (63 first place votes), 1621
    2. Clemson, 1508
    3. Oklahoma (2 first place votes), 1481
    4. Ohio State, 1435
    5. Georgia, 1386
    6. Texas A & M, 1286
    7. Notre Dame, 1139
    8. Iowa State, 1131
    9. North Carolina, 999
    10. Cincinnati, 979
    11. Florida, 870
    12. Oregon, 842
    13. LSU, 664
    14. Southern California, 655
    15. Wisconsin, 655
    16. Miami, 575
    17. Indiana, 573
    18. Iowa, 554
    19. Texas, 427
    20. Penn State, 422
    21. Washington, 404
    22. Oklahoma State, 216
    23. Louisiana, 153
    24. Coastal Carolina, 150
    25. Mississippi, 149

    Florida opens the season on September 4 against Florida Atlantic at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.

  • CB Elijah Blades Announces Intent to Attend UF in Fall

    CB Elijah Blades Announces Intent to Attend UF in Fall

    Photo by Brian Perroni | 247Sports

    A former top target and commit to Florida, Elijah Blades announced his intention to complete his collegiate career with the Gators via Instagram on Friday.

    Blades is finishing a class at Texas A&M, where he spent the last two years before entering the NCAA transfer portal in June. In 2019, the California native played in 7 games for the Aggies, compiling 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three passes defensed.

    Blades opted out of 2020 to prepare for the NFL Draft before deciding to return for his final year of eligibility.

    Blades had a whirlwind recruitment in 2016-17 as he was committed to Florida but ultimately signed with Nebraska before ending up going JUCO. He was originally ranked as a four-star prospect by the 247 composite rankings.

    After a stint in junior college, Blades committed to Oregon before landing at Texas A&M. He also held an offer from Florida at the time.

    Now, we’ve come full circle as Elijah Blades appears finally set to step on campus and into a crowded UF secondary. The Gators have had a lot of success navigating the transfer portal, picking up four former five star prospects with multiple years of eligibility and finding much needed depth, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines.