Florida Gators
Texas A&M
No. 9 Gator Volleyball Cruises Past No. 19 Texas A&M in Straight Sets
Sunday, October 12, 2014 | Volleyball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 9 Florida volleyball program added its third win over a top-25 opponent this season with a sweep against No. 19 Texas A&M (25-12, 25-23, 25-17) to complete a weekend at home in front of 2,610 Gator fans in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The Orange and Blue added a sixth win to their undefeated SEC slate, while improving to 12-3 overall on the season.
Florida relied on its veteran defense in the back row and posted 10 blocks on the afternoon as UF limited the Aggies to just a .119 hitting efficiency in the three-set victory. The Gators rode the arms of sophomore right side Alex Holston and freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan, as the duo combined for 23 kills and nine blocks. Holston hit a season-best .545 on the afternoon, while Alhassan turned in a .368 clip.
Senior Taylor Unroe paced the Gators with 10 digs, while fellow senior libero Holly Pole scooped up nine. Holston rallied for a season-tying seven digs and UF had zero reception errors for the fourth time this season.
The Gators are undefeated all-time against Texas A&M, including a perfect 5-0 at home in the O'Dome now. UF slammed down 43 kills, compared to Texas A&M's 29, and the Orange and Blue limited the league's top hitting team to a .119 hitting efficiency while turning in its second-best offensive efficiency in SEC play with a .395 hitting percentage.
GATOR HOTLINE WITH MARY WISE
Gator Hotline with Mary Wise debuts for the 2014 season MONDAY, Oct. 13, from 7-8 p.m. at Ballyhoo Grill in Gainesville. The hour-long call-in show, centered on Florida volleyball, is hosted by Gator play-by-play commentator Tom Collett. All Gator fans are invited to join Wise at Ballyhoo and participate in the show on location, while fans can also call in at 352-392-8255 to ask Wise questions.
GETTING WISE
“As good as the offensive numbers were in this match, the true story has to be our defense. From the serve, the block, the back row play -- it was as good a defensive performance as we've had all year.”
BY THE NUMBERS
· 13: kills for sophomore right side Alex Holston, who additionally had a season-best .545 hitting efficiency against the Aggies. Holston added seven digs and three blocks for the Orange and Blue defensively
· 10: opponents the Gators have forced to operate under a .200 hitting efficiency this season, including all six in conference play. Ole Miss hit .197 against the Gators, the highest in SEC play so far. UF has held it's league opponents to a combined .113
· 10: digs for senior defensive specialist Taylor Unroe, her most in SEC play and third double-digit dig performance of the season. Unroe also served up two of UF's five aces Sunday, tying a season best
· 10: wins for the Gators all-time against the Aggies. Florida has never lost to Texas A&M, and is now 8-0 under head coach Mary Wise
· 10: kills for freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan, who now has four double-digit kill performances in SEC play -- with 10 kills each against Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M
· 7: straight wins for the Gators, extending UF's longest win streak of the season. Florida is now 3-2 this season against top-25 opponents
· 6: straight SEC wins to start conference play. UF and Kentucky are the lone undefeated teams in conference play
· 5: SEC sweeps following the win against the Aggies Sunday (Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia, Texas A&M)
· 5: kills for freshman outside hitter Carli Snyder, who registered a season-tying .500 hitting efficiency against Texas A&M (5-1-8)
· 2: straight matches for freshman defensive specialist Sam Dubiel, who served out the final three points of set one for the Gators Sunday
· 0: reception errors for the second time in SEC play (Mississippi State, Texas A&M) and the fourth time this season (Georgia Southern, Idaho)
UP NEXT
Florida will have a quick turnaround as the Gators head to Columbia, S.C. for a mid-week tilt at South Carolina in a match set to be broadcast on ESPNU. First serve between the Gamecocks and Gators is slated for 6 p.m. at the Carolina Volleyball Center. After the Wednesday match, the Gators will next play Sunday, Oct. 19 at home against Arkansas.
FOLLOW THE GATORS | In the Polls | Preseason SEC Favorites
Coach Mary Wise on Twitter | On Instagram
