Gators Meet First Ranked Opponent This Season
Saturday, September 6, 2008 | Volleyball
The Gators (3-0) are looking to avenge a thrilling five-set loss to the 49ers suffered last season at the Baden Thanksgiving Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. Florida and LBSU meet for the 10th time in program history with the 49ers leading the all-time series 6-3.
The Gators benefited from a balanced offensive attack in Friday night's match vs. the Dolphins. Florida, which recorded its highest team hitting percentage (.521) since the 2003 season, had four players hit better than .500 and five players who notched eight or more kills in the match.
UF is led by redshirt freshman outside hitter/right-side Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.), who is averaging 3.50 kills per set on .338 hitting. Junior libero Elyse Cusack (Melrose, Fla.) leads the team's defensive effort, averaging 4.30 digs per set. She is also the Southeastern Conference's leader in service aces, averaging 1.0 aces per set. Cusack has recorded at least three aces in each of the team's three matches this season.
Florida will be meeting its second member from the Big West Conference this season after sweeping Pacific, 3-0, last weekend in the Aquafina Invitational. Long Beach State is coming off of a four-set win against Florida A&M on Friday night. The 49ers are playing their third match in three days after beating Florida State in Tallahassee in five sets on Thursday before traveling to Gainesville.
UF is 88-71 all-time vs. teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top-25 poll at the time of the match.
Long Beach State is 5-0 to start the 2008 campaign and is led by senior outside hitter Quincy Verdin, who averages 2.85 kills per set and is third on the team in blocks with 0.70 blocks per set. Senior setter Nicole Vargas currently ranks fourth on the school's all-time career assists list and is averaging 10.45 assists per set. She also is third on the team in digs with 2.95 scoops per set.
Complete results and a recap of Saturday's match will be available at www.GatorZone.com
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