Box Score
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan made her Gator debut in dominating fashion, turning in a .750 clip and four blocks as the No. 10 Gator volleyball program swept Georgia Southern (25-19, 25-11, 25-15) to open the 2014 campaign at home in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Action continues in the O'Dome Friday evening with games three and four of the Active Ankle Challenge, as Georgia Southern and Oklahoma hit the court at 5:30, while the volleyball Gators will be the first Florida team this weekend to tilt with Idaho at 7:30 p.m.
Alhassan, who had a team-best 8.5 points against the Eagles, was error free and slammed down six kills on eight attacks to accompany three block assists and one solo stuff. Fourteen Gators saw action in Florida's season and home opener, including three freshmen. Junior outside hitter Noami Santos-Lamb chipped in seven kills and a .545 hitting efficiency with 7.5 points, while freshman Carli Snyder registered a .333 clip in two sets of play.
NOTABLES
· Alhassan is the first true Gator freshman to hit .750 or higher since Cassandra Anderson (2008) registered a .909 (10-0-11) hitting efficiency in the NCAA Tournament against FAMU
· Senior libero Taylor Unroe, who owns 108 career service aces, picked right back up where she left off last year with two of UF's four against the Georgia Southern Eagles Friday
· Sophomore Alex Holston and junior Simone Antwi had UF's other two service aces. Holston and Antwi each added three blocks and four kills to UF's tally in the victory
· Florida held Georgia Southern to a -.128 hitting percentage and out-blocked the Eagles, 9.0-3.0
· As Florida settled in, the Orange and Blue were better with each set, improving hitting percentage from .080 the first set to .409 by the third set. The Gators hit .350 in set two
· UF held GSU to a negative hitting efficiency as a team in all three sets (-.037, -.300, -.034)
· Stepping in to the Gators' starting setter position, junior Mackenzie Dagostino had 23 assists and eight digs, while freshman setter Abby Detering added three in her Florida debut
RHAMAT'S ROUND UP
“I was really excited and hyped up before the game -- we did a lot of cheers, so that was fun! We've been practicing really hard and it showed today. The speed of the offense has been a big change for me, so we've been working hard at it. It showed.”
FLORIDA VERSUS THE ACTIVE ANKLE CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT FIELD
IDAHO | AUGUST 29 | 7:30 P.M.
· Friday's 7:30 p.m. match will be the first meeting in program history between the Gators and Idaho Van?dals
OKLAHOMA | AUGUST 30 | 2:30 P.M.
Gators lead series history, 2-0 (2-0 under head coach Mary Wise)
3-set: 2-0; 4-set: 0-0; 5-set: 0-0
Home: 2-0; Away: 0-0; Neutral: 0-0
· 1995 W 3-0 H 15-7, 15-13, 15-4
· 2007 W 3-0 H 30-24, 30-24, 36-34
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
Florida vs. Idaho (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)
· Giveaways: 2014 posters, schedule cards & key tags | Florida volleyball tank tops
· Rowdy Reptile check-in (7:30-9 p.m.)
· Government Hall challenge!
· Kids Korner (between gates 3&4)
· Post match autographs
Florida vs. Oklahoma (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
· Giveaways: 2014 posters, schedule cards & key tags | Point Florida Cards | Active Ankle tape measures, based on available inventory from Friday (post match)
· FREE ADMISSION for fans with a valid UF vs. Idaho football ticket!
· Government Hall challenge!
· Post match autographs
· Active Ankle Challenge Post Match Awards Ceremony
· PARKING ARRANGEMENTS
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