Top-ranked UF volleyball team keeps rolling, will honor a trio of seniors on Sunday
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Soccer, Volleyball, Scott Carter
The No. 1-ranked UF volleyball team has been cruising along like a Sunday afternoon drive down A1A.
The Gators (22-1) have a 17-match winning streak entering Thursday night's home match against Mississippi State. However, the Gators hit a minor speed bump in Sunday's win at Auburn.
And Florida coach Mary Wise couldn't be more pleased.
“We learned more about ourselves from Sunday's match than a number of matches strung together where we won 3-0,'' Wise said. “We really hope that we can take those experiences like Sunday's to the NCAA Tournament.''
For only the second time in the last 13 matches, the Gators didn't sweep their opponent. Florida needed a fifth set to knock off the Tigers, 3-2, and remain on top of the polls.
“The difference in the match was our ability to block balls,'' Wise said. “The great thing about blocking is that not only does it stop the other team, but it gives your team an immediate point.''
Wise pointed out that Tangerine Wiggs' 10 blocks made a crucial difference, as did senior Lauren Bledsoe's play at the net.
Most of all, Wise was pleased in the fact the Gators were challenged in the homestretch of the regular season.
“It was a really good gut-check,'' Wise said. “The key for our players to understand is that no matter what the result was – whether we won or we lost – the key is what we learned from that match.''
After hosting Mississippi State on Thursday, the Gators host Alabama on Sunday in their final home match of the season on Senior Day.
Bledsoe and fellow seniors Callie Rivers and Erin Fleming will be honored before the match for their contributions to the program, which has been ranked No. 1 in the country for five consecutive weeks.
“Every year we hope our seniors have their best year their final year, that they can leave on such a high,'' Wise said. “No senior class has really done that as well as this senior group.”
After Sunday's match, the Gators close out the regular season with road matches at Arkansas (Nov. 19), LSU (Nov. 21) and South Carolina (Nov. 26).
