Top-ranked Gators get more ESPNU exposure
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 | Volleyball, Scott Carter
The top-ranked UF volleyball team has nine regular-season matches remaining, starting with tonight's home match against South Carolina on ESPNU at 7.
What has Gators coach Mary Wise's attention is that six of those matches are on the road. The Gators (18-1, 11-0 in SEC) have a 13-match win streak entering tonight's match, but Wise knows for that streak to continue, Florida will have to overcome some big hurdles.
“Going on the road in the SEC is never easy,'' Wise said. “This is a big challenge for our team. The toughest part of the season is still ahead of us.''
While Florida's road toward the SEC Tournament is littered with tough foes, the exposure the program is receiving for the second consecutive Wednesday is priceless. The Gators knocked off Tennessee on ESPNU last Wednesday, and tonight they get a chance to show why they are ranked No. 1 in the nation once more on national television.
“It has been terrific to see the amount of television coverage for women's volleyball this year,'' Wise said. “It's hard to go two days in a row without seeing a match. It's something that we've known for years: to build the sport, you really have to start with television. It is terrific exposure for our sport.
“In back-to-back weeks we'll be on ESPNU. That's a lot of homes that get that channel.''
The Gators are also doing well in attendance. In 12 home matches, Florida is averaging 2,769 fans per game, which leads the SEC.
