No. 9 Gators Look to Rebound at Arkansas Sunday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The Orange and Blue head back to the Midwest Sunday looking to rebound against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Barnhill Arena after a pair of SEC setbacks this week. Florida is 9-3 overall on the season, 1-2 in conference play after falling short to ranked Kentucky Sunday and Missouri in five Wednesday in a mid-week clash.

The Gators hit the road for Fayetteville for a tilt with the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are receiving votes in the latest AVCA top-25 poll. The Razorbacks are on a four-match win streak and enter their SEC home opener against the Gators at 12-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Florida has won 14 straight in the history of the series since Arkansas won a five-setter in 2007 in Fayetteville -- one of two matches the Hogs have won against UF.

First serve between the Gators and Razorbacks is 4 p.m. ET on the SEC Network with Melissa Lee and Jennifer Hoffman on the call. As always, Florida play-by-play Tom Collett will bring Gator Nation the call on the ESPN Gainesville airwaves (95.3 FM, 850 AM).

UF owns a 37-2 all-time record over the Razorbacks and is 15-1 all-time in Fayetteville.

While Florida opened SEC play last Friday with a sweep of Ole Miss at home, the No. 9 Gators have uncharacteristically dropped two straight conference matches -- to No. 24 Kentucky, 3-1, (Sunday) and Missouri, 3-2, (Wednesday) in mid-week action. Florida last dropped two straight SEC matches in 2011 (at Tennessee, at Kentucky) and the Gators have never been below .500 in league play under head coach Mary Wise. In 2006, Florida started SEC play 1-1, but won the next 18 to go 19-1 in league play.

The Gators, picked to win the SEC this year, racked up their 13th undefeated SEC season last year to win the program's 21st conference championship. While a one-match-at-a-time mentality is Florida's approach, the Gators have their sights set on a 22nd SEC title in the second portion of the season after going 8-1 through a tough non-conference slate that featured four top-20 tilts and seven road matches.

UF opens SEC play with high expectations after going an undefeated 18-0 last year behind Player of the Year efforts from Alex Holston and Freshman of the Year performances from Rhamat Alhassan. Wise was the SEC Coach of the Year for the 14th time as UF racked up its 21st SEC championship in her 24 years thus far at the helm of the program.

NOTABLES | Florida vs. Arkansas Match Notes | Head Coach Mary Wise Media Availability (9-28)

· Florida ranks No. 4 in the nation in blocks per set (3.14) and No. 5 in hitting efficiency (.300) entering Sunday's clash at Arkansas

· Gator sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan paces the nation with 2.18 blocks per set and 93 total blocks. Alhassan also checks in sixth in the country in hitting efficiency at .444

· Senior middle Simone Antwi ranks 21st in the nation with her .421 clip

· Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino ranks 33rd in the NCAA with 11.07 assists per set

· As a team, the Gators lead the SEC overall on the season in hitting efficiency (.300), kills per set (13.96) and blocks per set (3.14)

· The Gators have posted double-digit blocks as a team in nine straight matches and in 11 of 12 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 five different occasions, while Florida boasts a season-best efficiency of .440 against Oregon at the VERT Challenge

· Aggressive behind the service line, the Gators have served up four or more aces in all but two matches this season and dropped a season-high seven against Sunshine State rival FSU a week and a half ago

· Florida is 3-2 against top-25 opponents so far this season

FLORIDA VS ARKANSAS BROADCAST INFORMATION

Arkansas Razorbacks (Oct. 4) at Barnhill Arena

Time: 4:00 p.m. ET

TV: SEC Network (Melissa Lee & Jennifer Hoffman)

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Radio: ESPN Gainesville

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

No. 9 UF | ARKANSAS SERIES HISTORY

· 2015 Record: 12-2, 2-0 SEC

· Series Record: Florida leads, 37-2 (all under Mary Wise)

o 3-set: 21-1; 4-set: 12-0; 5-set: 4-1