Florida Gators
Texas
No. 6 Gators Win Five-Set Thriller Over No. 3 Texas, Cap Off Regular Season with 20th Consecutive Win
Saturday, November 29, 2014 | Volleyball
AUSTIN, Texas -- SEC Player of the Year Alex Holston slammed down a staggering 29 kills and junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino posted her fourth double-double of the season with 57 assists and 16 digs, as No. 6 Florida used an all-around team effort to upset No. 3 Texas in a five-set thriller to cap off the regular-season slate at Gregory Gym in Austin (26-28, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12).
Florida improved to 25-3 on the season for the program's 24th straight 25-win season as UF added its 20th consecutive win in front of a rowdy 4,276 in Austin. In its final tune-up before the 2014 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show Sunday night, the Gators additionally relied on its senior-led back row, as defensive specialists Holly Pole (16) and Taylor Unroe (12) posted double-digit scoops to compliment Dagostino's 16 digs.
The Gators improved to 5-2 this season against top-25 opponents, as Holston (29) and freshman outside hitter Carli Snyder (17) each notched double-digit kills -- Holston with the third-most in a single match in school history in the rally scoring era. Holston's 32 points were also the third-most in Gator history in the rally-scoring era as the right-side hitter added four blocks and a service ace to her line.
Four Gators scored double-digit points in Sunday's victory and freshman Rhamat Alhassan led the Orange and Blue in blocks, with five, for the 26th match this season.
The 2014 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show is Sunday, Nov. 30, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU where the Orange and Blue will determine their fate in the 2014 NCAA Volleyball Championship, with First and Second Rounds slated for Dec. 4-6.
GETTING WISE
“No matter what the end result was going to be, this was a great match for our players in terms of learning about ourselves. The bonus is that we came out ahead and won on the road against a great Texas team.”
BY THE NUMBERS
107: wins for UF's senior class, which boasts a 107-18 record the past four seasons to compliment two SEC titles and four trips to the NCAA Tournament
32: points by junior Alex Holston were the third-most in Gator history in the rally-scoring era (Jane Collymore – 36.0 & 34.5, ties Aury Cruz for third), as the right-side hitter had 29 kills, four blocks and one service ace
29: kills by Alex Holston was the third-most in a single match in school history in the rally scoring era (Aury Cruz – 31, Jane Collymore – 30)
24: 25-win seasons for Florida, every year of head coach Mary Wise's tenure at the helm of the program
21: SEC titles for the Gators in Wise's 24 seasons, including 18 straight conference titles from 1991-2008. Wise was named the 2014 SEC Coach of the Year Wednesday for the 14th time
20: straight wins for the Gators, the fourth-longest in the country entering the week. Florida's last streak of 20 or longer was four years ago in 2010 (24 consecutive wins from 9/11/10-12/4/10)
13: undefeated SEC seasons for the Gators, as UF capped off the league slate 18-0 with its sweep of USC last Wednesday. The Gators are one of four teams to ever go undefeated in conference play (UF 13 times, UK three times, LSU twice, Mizzou once)
17: kills for freshman Carli Snyder, who now has double-digit kills in three straight matches. Snyder's 17 kills were one shy of her season-high 18 set last time the Orange and Blue faced Texas in Gainesville. Snyder has seven double-figure kill performances this season
6: service aces, half of which came from senior Taylor Unroe
5: blocks for freshman middle Rhamat Alhassan, who has now led Florida in roofs 26 of 28 matches this season
5: wins this season for the Gators against top-25 opponents. After dropping its first two matches to ranked foes, the Gators have now won five straight
4: double-doubles this season for junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino, who racked up 57 assists and 16 digs Saturday
2: Gators in double-figure kills Saturday afternoon: Alex Holston (29) and freshman Carli Snyder (17)
