As Gators Carve Out a New Identity, They Once Again Carve Up FSU
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 | Volleyball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators volleyball team took the court Tuesday night against that squad from Tallahassee and as usual, the Gators left the O'Connell Center with another win over the Seminoles.
While the lopsided Florida-Florida State football rivalry in recent years caused former Noles coach Bobby Bowden some headaches, Mary Wise's teams have dominated FSU since the days of Bill Clinton's first term in the White House.
Florida's 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-22, 25-22) Tuesday night was the Gators' 21st consecutive victory over FSU. The last time the Noles beat Florida in volleyball Will Muschamp had never had a full-time coaching job.
How long has it been you ask? Oct. 10, 1995.
However, don't think the Gators take FSU lightly even if the current players have never suffered a loss against FSU. Or the players before them. Or the ones before those players.
“Playing FSU is always exciting,'' Florida senior Kristy Jaeckel said after Tuesday's match. “We always know they are going to come and bring their best game.''
Wise expressed the same respect toward FSU. Remember, Wise took over the Gators in 1991 and hasn't lost a match to the Noles in 16 years. You might think she shows up when garnet and gold is in the building and takes a seat until the match is over.
Think again. She said when people in volleyball circles see that Florida swept the Seminoles in three sets on Tuesday, that they will figure it's the same old rivalry.
In her mind nothing could be further from the truth.
“They will be misinformed as to the high quality and just how close this was,'' Wise said. “We got some breaks that went our way. It was pretty high-level volleyball. There is no doubt we'll have to see Florida State again.”
The two schools played a classic five-set match in last year's NCAA Tournament, with the Gators overcoming a five-point deficit late in the fifth set to earn a spot in the Sweet 16.
Tuesday's showdown was not nearly as dramatic. Florida fell behind in all three sets – including 9-1 in the second due to trouble receiving FSU's serve – but rallied in each for a convincing early-season victory over the 25th-ranked Noles, who entered 3-0 after wins over Kentucky, Albany and No. 23-ranked Tulsa.
Meanwhile, the Gators passed both of their tests to open the season last weekend, sweeping ACC teams Boston College and North Carolina. Still, Wise wanted to see more from her mixture of upperclassmen (five seniors) and newcomers (four freshmen). FSU was the perfect foe at the perfect time.
What did she think?
“The glaring concern right now is the fact we didn't block balls,'' Wise said. “Teams that win championships, conference championships, teams that win big matches, they do it with blocking. It will be a major focus in practice.
“It's an early match. Had we lost 0-3 I would have felt the same way. It's a good barometer for where we are, but just like last year, we are not going to put too much into a win in August when it's the SEC season that we are trying to win over a three-month period.''
And after the SEC, there is one more season the Gators hope to win – the postseason and the program's first national title. That's been the goal for a while, including a season ago when Florida was ranked No. 1 in the country for much of the regular season. That goal hasn't changed.
While many things remain the same for the ninth-ranked Gators – another win over FSU, another triple-double by senior Kelly Murphy (12 kills, 10 digs, 17 assists), Stephanie Ferrell and Cassandra Anderson's stellar play up front, Jaeckel's exuberant production – there are signs of newness emerging as well.
One is the play of freshman libero Taylor Unroe, who has instantly made an impact on the back row. Another is a team carving out an identity after three wins in five days. And then there is a factor that has even caught the Gators by surprise – a raucous student section at the O'Dome.
Students packed the Rowdy Reptile section again Tuesday night in a crowd announced at more than 4,600, creating one of the liveliest atmospheres the players could remember.
“Our students have been doing a really good job of showing up,'' Murphy said. “We have never had fans like this, especially in the beginning of the season.''
After all three home wins, the Gators have left the court to high-five fans in the first row of the student section to say thank you.
“They have been loud and on their feet the whole time,” Jaeckel said. “That extra support I think it really does give you a competitive advantage at home.''
The fans haven't been disappointed. Based on the results so far, the Gators are up to their old tricks. Just ask the Noles.
