No. 17 Gators Descend Upon Lexington for Top-20 Showdown With Kentucky
Sunday, October 18, 2015 | Volleyball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the midst of a three-match SEC win streak, the No. 17 Florida volleyball squad, 12-4 overall and 4-3 in SEC play, descends upon Lexington Kentucky for a re-match with the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats (13-5, 6-0 SEC) Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.
First serve between the Gators and Wildcats is slated for 1 p.m. ET live on SEC Network with Cara Capuano and Jenny Hazelwood on the call. As always, Gator Nation can additionally listen to Florida play-by-play Tom Collett on the airwaves on ESPN Gainesville (95.3 FM, 850 AM).
While the Wildcats are an undefeated 6-0 and in the driver's seat in the SEC, Kentucky battled to five with the Auburn Tigers Friday evening in Auburn. The Gators enter Sunday's tilt riding a three-match win streak with victories against Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee.
Sunday's clash will be the second of two meetings between Florida and Kentucky, as the Wildcats took a 3-1 decision in Gainesville Sept. 27, which started a three-match skid in SEC play for the Gators. Starting with Sunday's tilt, UF will match up with all three opponents that account for their conference losses -- Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri -- in the next week.
Florida leads the all-time series with the Wildcats, 49-11, including a 47-4 mark under head coach Mary Wise. The Orange and Blue are 21-5 all-time against Kentucky in Lexington.
While a one-match-at-a-time mentality is the approach, Florida looks to chip away at the remainder of the SEC schedule after going 8-1 through a tough non-conference slate that featured four top-20 tilts and seven straight road matches to start the campaign.
NOTABLES
· Wednesday Highlights at Tennessee: Sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan posted 13 kills, turned in a .429 clip and posted two blocks, while senior outside hitter éiva Recek joined Alhassan in double-digit kills with 12 and a .455 hitting efficiency. Antwi quietly led all players on the court with a .500 clip following an eight-kill outing.
· Florida ranks No. 3 in the nation in hitting efficiency (.310) and No. 9 in blocks per set (2.97) entering Sunday's match-up in Lexington
· Gator sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan paces the nation with 1.88 blocks per set, ranks second with 111 total blocks and also checks in sixth in the country in hitting efficiency at .442
· Senior middle Simone Antwi ranks 20th in the nation with her .415 clip
· Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino ranks 14th in the NCAA with 11.38 assists per set
· As a team, the Gators lead the SEC overall on the season in hitting efficiency (.310), kills per set (14.15) and blocks per set (2.97). UF additionally leads the league through conference matches in blocks (2.89/s)
· The Gators have posted double-digit blocks as a team in 13 of 15 matches this year with a season high 16.5 against Texas at the VERT Challenge in Austin
· UF has limited its opponents to a .200 efficiency or lower on eight different occasions, while Florida boasts a season-best efficiency of .571, achieved just over a week ago against Texas A&M. The Vols became Florida's fourth SEC opponent under a .200 clip (.095)
· Aggressive behind the service line, the Gators have served up four or more aces in all but three matches this season and dropped a season-best seven against Sunshine State rival FSU
· Florida is 3-2 against top-25 opponents so far this season and will face their sixth ranked foe in the re-match with Kentucky Sunday in Lexington
FLORIDA VS KENTUCKY BROADCAST INFORMATION
Kentucky Wildcats (Oct. 18) at Memorial Coliseum
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network (Cara Capuano & Jenny Hazelwood)
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: ESPN Gainesville
Live Stats: UK Game Center
No. 17 UF | No. 20 KENTUCKY SERIES HISTORY
· 2015 Record: 13-5, 6-0 SEC
· Series Record: Florida leads, 49-11 (47-4 under Mary Wise)
o 3-set: 35-5 | 4-set: 8-1 | 5-set: 6-5
o Home: 24-5 | Away: 21-5 | Neutral: 4-1
· Last Time Out: Sept. 27, 2015 at Gainesville | L, 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 21-25)
UP NEXT
After wrapping up a two-match road week, the Orange and Blue return to the friendly confines of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for a weekend set against Arkansas and Missouri Friday and Sunday, respectively. Sunday's tilt with the Tigers will be Florida's Pink Match.
ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI PROMOTIONS
Friday, October 23, 7:00 PM vs. Arkansas
· Presenting sponsor: Cox
· Presenting sponsor: 100.5 The Buzz
· Key Chains
The first 300 fans will receive a key chain courtesy of Cox.
· Family Weekend
We welcome all Gators who are spending fall family weekend to the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
Sunday, October 25, 1:30 PM vs. Missouri
· Presenting sponsor: UF Health
· Pink T-Shirts
The first 500 fans will receive Pink T-Shirts courtesy of UF Health
· Pink Match
Any cancer survivors or those currently battling cancer will receive free admission to the match. We will also be honoring all those cancer survivors and those currently battling cancer throughout the match
· Kids Corner
Sundays are Kids Days at Florida Volleyball Matches. Stop by the Kids Corner to meet your favorite mascots, spirit squads, play games, make posters and partake other exciting promotions. Located on the inter concourse between gates 3 and 4
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