No. 6 Gators Prepare for Nationally Televised Showdown with Lady Volunteers
Saturday, September 24, 2011 | Volleyball
After recording one of the best offensive performances in over a decade, No. 6 Florida now prepares for its first match on the national stage as the Gators take on the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Sunday, broadcasting live from the O'Connell Center on ESPNU. Opening serve is set for just after 5 p.m. EST and Sam Gore and former Georgia Bulldog and three-time All-SEC outside hitter Maria Taylor are on the call. Longtime radio analyst Tom Collett and former Gator All-SEC setter Missy Whittemore are broadcasting live on Sportsradio 850.
The Gators lead the SEC in hitting percentage (.292) and rank second in opponent hitting percentage (.139) and service aces (1.77/set). Florida is also third in blocks with 2.47/set. AVCA National Player of the Week Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) leads the conference in service aces, averaging .52/set this fall, while posting a .373 hitting percentage, good for second in the SEC. Junior right-side hitter Tangerine Wiggs (Seattle, Wash.) is fifth in the conference in hitting percentage with a .365 hitting clip, while senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) is eighth in the SEC in kills with 3.26/set and also ranks eighth in points with 3.85/set. Redshirt freshman libero Taylor Unroe (Muncie, Ind.) comes in at eighth in both service aces (.32/set) and digs (3.70/set).
The Gators are the defending Southeastern Conference Champions and have won 19 SEC titles, including 18 consecutive from 1991-2008. Florida won the first undefeated SEC title since changing to a double round robin format in 2006. The Gators have only dropped four matches to Tennessee under head coach Mary Wise (Florida leads Tennessee: 42-9 overall).
Tennessee has won its last six straight, including head coach Rob Patrick's 300th career win in a sweep of Georgia last weekend. The Lady Volunteers are led by sophomore Kelsey Robinson, who notched 30 kills, 20 digs and three aces in the opening weekend of SEC play, including recording her seventh double-double of the year. She had 22 kills and 12 digs against South Carolina on Friday night for her eighth double-double of 2011.
Robinson's 20-kill performance against the Bulldogs ranks second in UT history for the number of kills in a three-set match. Robinson leads the SEC and is fifth in the country with 5.66 points/set and her 4.86 kills per set leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the nation. The Lady Vols' freshman setter Mary Pollmiller is second in the SEC and 16th in the nation in assists per set with 11.51. Tennessee received votes in both the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll and the Volleyball Magazine Division I Poll.
Sunday's match is chock full of promotions, highlighted by the SEC Together We CAN drive, coordinated by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Office of Student Life, a cause especially important to starting junior middle blocker and Florida's SAAC president Betsy Smith (Atlanta, Ga.).
“Working with SAAC, we have a special opportunity to impact not only the university, but the Gainesville community as a whole,” Smith said. “I think it's so important for our fans to take part in the SEC Together We CAN drive and give to those in need. In doing so, it not only helps others, but it proves the huge impact the Gator Nation has, no matter the cause.
Fans are encouraged to bring as many canned goods to Gate 1 of the O'Connell Center. All canned or dried food items are acceptable and the Salvation Army's most-needed food items include canned meats, rice and beans, noodles, peanut butter and jelly, as well as spaghetti sauce. Items must be sealed and in its original packaging to be accepted. SAAC representatives will be present at the designated athletic events to help with the collection process.
Along with the SEC Together We CAN drive, here are the other promotions Gator fans can take part in prior and after Sunday's match:
Sunday Fundays – There will plenty of games and crafts for children in the Gator Kids Corner.
o Gator Poster Days – Kids 12 and under can enjoy a poster making station prior to each Sunday match.
o Face Painting & Pictures with Gator stand-ups, coloring books & crayons.
Post-Match –
o Spikeline – Ten (10) minutes following the match kids 12 and under will be invited to the floor for a spikeline.
o Immediately following the game several student-athletes will be available to sign autographs.
