Volleyball Meets Pacific Saturday for First Time Since 1999
Saturday, August 30, 2008 | Volleyball
Redshirt freshman Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) had a memorable first collegiate match for the Gators (1-0), notching a double- double with 15 kills and 11 digs to complement four blocks and three service aces. Freshman right-side hitter/setter Kelly Murphy (Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 13 kills, seven digs and 20 assists, while junior libero Elyse Cusack (Melrose, Fla.) led the defensive effort with 19 digs. Junior Kristina Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) tallied a squad-best six blocks.
Cusack, who entered this season ranked No. 10 on Florida's all-time digs list, increased her career total to 1,141 scoops after the match vs. UAB, which moves her up to No. 9 on the school's all-time list. She needs just one more dig to tie Jenni Keene, who registered 1,142 career digs from 1994-98, for eighth place all-time.
The Gators improved to 17-8 all-time in season-opening matches, including a 14-4 record under head coach Mary Wise, with Friday's four-set victory against the Blazers.
Florida and Pacific meet for the first time since the 1999 season when they square off on Saturday. The Tigers lead the all-time series between the two teams 6-0, with the last meeting coming in the 1999 NCAA Regional Final in Stockton, Calif.
Pacific fell in three sets to Western Michigan on Friday in the O'Connell Center. Junior outside hitter Mallori Gibson led the way with eight kills and nine digs, while junior defensive specialist Dancyne Kama added a team-high 13 digs. The Tigers finished the 2007 season with an 18-9 mark and finished fourth in the Big West Conference. Pacific's senior outside hitter Alexa Anderson was a first-team All-Big West first-team selection last season after averaging 3.28 kills per game and 0.58 blocks per game.
Live audio and stats will be available at www.GatorZone.com.
