No. 7 Gators Cap Road Stand with 3-1 Win at No. 13 FSU

Wednesday, September 14

Tallahassee, FL

6 PM

Florida Gators

7-1

Florida State

6-2

Florida

Florida State

Florida downed Florida State 3-1 at Tully Gym in Tallahassee.

No. 7 Gators Cap Road Stand with 3-1 Win at No. 13 FSU

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery by Larry Novey

UF defeated FSU in Tallahassee for the first time Wednesday since 2010.

By: Kelly Sobers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Another classic Florida, Florida State clash lived up to the billing Wednesday in Tallahassee in a top-15 Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown at Tully Gym. The No. 7 Gators defeated No. 13 Florida State 3-1 (27-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-19) for the first time in Seminole territory since 2010 to wrap up an eight-match road streak to open the 2016 campaign.

Four Gators posted double-digit points, including season-best outputs from Rhamat Alhassan (18.0), Alex Holston (18.5) and a standout performance from freshman middle Rachael Kramer (13.0). Kramer's career night provided a spark for the Gators and included an error-free eight kills, a .615 clip and a team high eight blocks, including two solo stuffs. Florida posted a season high 16.0 blocks, compared to Florida State's 8.5.

After a solid start for the Gators in the first with a 14-10 advantage, the home team put together a monstrous 9-0 run to erase the UF lead and put the Orange and Blue at a five-point deficit, 19-14. The two squads traded points until a deadlock at 23-all, then a tie at 24-all. FSU had set point at 25-24 on a Gators' error, but Holston put down one of her 14 kills for a 25-all tie. The Orange and Blue added the next two points on an Alhassan kill and a FSU attack error for the 27-25 first-set win.

A 5-0 run got FSU out to a hot start in the second, but the Gators stormed back with an 8-1 run of their own, thanks in part to a six-point service run from freshman Allie Gregory. Following a 14-all tie, the Noles closed with an 11-5 run for the 1-1 tie heading to the break.

Florida only seemed to improve as the match went on and Kramer kept bringing the heat both offensively and defensively for UF. While the third was a close back-and-forth battle, the Gators controlled most of the frame on the way to a 25-22 set win. The fourth was painted Orange and Blue. UF led 14-7 at one point, then made it an eight-point lead at 20-12. FSU made it interesting with a run down the stretch, but the Gators closed it out for the 25-19.

WORDS FROM WISE
"It was actually a classic Florida, Florida State match in early season. I won't say it was the cleanest volleyball; it was an incredibly slow match. Tonight, where our offense just had a hard time getting on track, it was our defense. Our defense won this match for us. To out-block a great blocking team; it was really the emergence of Rachael Kramer. She's got a chance to be very special."

THE RECORDS
No. 13 FSU: 6-2
No. 7 Florida: 7-1

NOTABLES & TRENDS

The Gators added to their edge in the history of the series with the Seminoles, 39-19 overall, and now own a 13-9 record all-time in Tully Gym
UF's 16 blocks were its best this season. The Gators now have three double-digit block matches on the season: 12.0 at Oregon, 10.0 versus Denver and 16.0 at FSU
The Orange and Blue made it seven straight wins with the 3-1 victory in Tallahassee to improve to 7-1 on the season
With the Gators' first win in Tallahassee since 2010, UF is now 1-1 this season against ranked opponents
Florida has four or more service aces in six of eight matches this season. Freshman Allie Gregory served over a team best two service aces against the Noles. Gregory has at least one service ace in six straight matches and two aces in two of UF's last three contests
UF had just one reception error against FSU, its second-lowest of the season next to zero at Michigan State

UP NEXT | Active Ankle Challenge Parking & Ticket Manager Information
Following eight straight matches on the road, Florida will finally return home for its home opener when the Gators host the Active Ankle Challenge at the Lemerand Center Sept. 16-17. For more information on parking, tickets and match-ups, visit the Gators' Active Ankle information page. The Gators will first play FAMU at noon Friday before hosting Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. UF will wrap up with Marshall at 4 p.m. Saturday.

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