No. 7 Florida Volleyball Falls to Marquette in Five

Friday, September 19

Gainesville, FL

7:00 PM

Florida Gators

Marquette

No. 7 Florida Volleyball Falls to Marquette in Five

Saturday, September 20, 2014 | Volleyball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Despite double-doubles from freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan and junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino, the Marquette Golden Eagles edged the No. 7 Florida volleyball team in a five-set affair at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Friday evening (24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, 13-15).

Alhassan had her third straight double-digit kill output (11) of the season for the Orange and Blue (5-3) and added a career-best 10 blocks against the Golden Eagles (7-3), while Dagostino scooped up a career-tying 17 digs and dished out 43 assists as the duo picked up the first double-double performances of their respective careers. Dagostino additionally served up a career-best six service aces, had five blocks and dumped over five kills (.833) for a career-best 13.5 points towards the Gators' offensive efforts.

Florida incorporated some new faces in the lineup Friday to aid the Gators' efforts, as sophomore Sha?nah Joseph started at middle blocker and had a career-best match with eight kills and five blocks for 10.5 points, while sophomore outside hitter Denise Belcher had career-tying two blocks through two sets, along with two kills.

Florida will now turn its sights towards UCF Sunday. First serve between the Gators and Knights is slated for 3 p.m. from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

GETTING WISE

“On a night when we played against a very well-coached team that played very well, our less-than-best wasn't good enough. Give the credit to the team that made the plays and deserved to win.”

BY THE NUMBERS

· 79.0: points for Florida against Marquette, their second-highest output of the season, short of the 80.0 in the five-setter against Oklahoma

· 15: blocks for the Gators against the Golden Eagles, the most for a Florida team since Ole Miss Sept. 29, 2013

· 14: digs for senior defensive specialist Holly Pole, who was UF's starting libero for the fifth straight match. Pole scooped up double-digit digs for the fifth time in UF's last six matches

· 7: service aces from the Gators, compared to Marquette's two. UF's seven are the second-most this season, thanks to six from Mackenzie Dagostino and one from Rhamat Alhassan -- the first of her career

· 6: service aces for Dagostino, a career high and the most since senior Taylor Unroe served up six at Texas A&M Nov. 3, 2013

· 5: players in double-digit points, paced by Alhassan's 18.0, including Alex Holston (14.5), Mackenzie Dagostino (13.5 -- career high), Carli Snyder (11.5) and Sha?nah Joseph (10.5 -- career high)

· 3: Florida players with double-digit kills, led by Holston (13), while Alhassan and fellow freshman Snyder both had 11

· 3: five-set matches for the Gators this season (Oklahoma, FSU, Marquette). UF is 1-2 in five-setters in 2014, including 1-1 at home

· 2: double-doubles from Dagostino and Alhassan marking the first of their respective careers and the first double-doubles for the Orange and Blue this season

· 1: junior outside hitter Gabby Mallette got in on the action in one set Friday, her first playing time this year. Mallette registered her first kill of the season

GATORS ALWAYS

Gator fans may see some familiar faces this weekend with the Golden Eagles and Knights in town; former Florida assistant coach Ryan Theis (2006-07) is now the head coach at Marquette. Theis is married to former Florida two-time All-American Jenny Manz Theis (1998-99). Theis was UF's offensive and recruiting coordinator during his time in Gainesville and was a part of two SEC titles and two NCAA Tournament runs while at Florida. Additionally, UCF assistant coach Michelle Chatman is no stranger to the Gator family, as the 2004 All-American helped the Gators reach the NCAA Final Four in 2002 and the National Championship match in 2003.

UP NEXT

At Sunday's match versus UCF, Gator students can enter to win a VIP experience for UF football's October match-up with LSU in The Swamp. Sunday is also faculty and staff appreciation day -- UF and Santa Fe faculty and staff members receive BOGO admission with a valid ID to wrap up the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational weekend.

BROADCAST INFORMATION | UF vs. UCF