Match Point: Posts from September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | Volleyball
BLEDSOE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 – 12:45 p.m.
Posted by: Sean Cartell
Junior right-side Lauren Bledsoe remains atop the Southeastern Conference with her .407 hitting percentage, but also ranks among the nation's top 30 athletes in that statistical category, according to the first set of NCAA rankings, released this week by the national office in Indianapolis, Ind.
Bledsoe is 27th in the nation currently with her hitting percentage.
Bledsoe has recorded double-figure kills in four of her last five matches and seems to be providing the Gators with another potent offensive option. As head coach Mary Wise has alluded to, much of Bledsoe's success can be attributed to her offseason conditioning program.
“I've put in a lot of work with Matt [DeLancey], our strength coach,” Bledsoe said. “That's helping me not to tire out during those five-game thrillers. The extra work has also allowed me to jump as well at the end of the match as I did in the beginning. I think experience has helped me. Now that I'm a junior, it's having an understanding to go above and beyond.”
A reminder to fans that a Q&A with Bledsoe will be featured in the match-day program of the next home match – Florida vs. Mississippi State on Sept. 25. Once the match is over, we will also post that Q&A on GatorZone.com in the features section at the bottom of the volleyball page.
DAILY WAKE-UP CALL – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 – 9:56 a.m.
Posted by: Sean Cartell
It's the start of the Southeastern Conference season this week and if that's good news for anyone, it's the Gators. Florida enters league play as the 18-time defending regular-season champion and will aim to extend that streak this year.
It won't be easy, though, and as head coach Mary Wise has said, “This isn't your mother's SEC.” It will be a fight each night, as the Gators have already seen this year with four of their seven matches this season extending past three sets.
Pending the outcome of tonight's intrastate showdown with Louisville, No. 16 Kentucky enters SEC play with an undefeated record and its highest national ranking since the early 1990s. Additionally, LSU is receiving votes in the AVCA national poll and is 6-3 on the season.
Friday's opponent, Ole Miss, is a respectable 6-4 and playing in the Gillom Sports Center is always difficult. We hope to have an extended feature on here later today regarding the hostile venue that the Gators will play in on Friday night.
Also, today is Florida's weekly media session, so we will have quotes from Coach Wise and selected players on the site later today.
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