No. 15 Florida Volleyball Ready for Arkansas, Missouri at Home This Weekend
Thursday, October 22, 2015 | Volleyball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 15 Gators, ranked No. 3 in this week's RPI standings, are back on track. After a three-match skid early in conference play, the Orange and Blue have won four straight, including a telling four-set victory at No. 20 Kentucky Sunday in Lexington. Next up, Florida will look to do the same and defend their home turf against Arkansas and Missouri Friday and Sunday in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
WATCH: Head Coach Mary Wise talk with Destination Volleyball Thursday
The Gators and Razorbacks (13-5, 3-3 SEC) will clash Friday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene and Missy Whittemore on the call, while Sunday's PINK MATCH between the Gators and Tigers (17-2, 5-1 SEC) will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on SEC Network + with Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore.
Florida went to five sets with both the Razorbacks and Tigers on the road and will now host both at home in Gainesville. In the big scope of the SEC season, Florida sits two matches back from leader Kentucky with over half of the conference slate still to play. Both Arkansas and Missouri are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top-25 poll.
The Gators improved to 13-4 on the season, 5-3 in the league, as Florida gave Kentucky (13-6, 6-1) its first loss in SEC play and notched its fourth top-25 victory of the season to improve to 4-2 against ranked foes on the 2015 campaign.
NOTABLES ENTERING ARKANSAS & MISSOURI
· UF checks in at No. 3 in this week's RPI rankings, tops in the SEC
· Florida ranks No. 4 in the nation in hitting efficiency (.304) and No. 6 with 3.06 blocks per set entering the weekend against Arky & Mizzou
· Gator sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan paces the nation with 1.92 blocks per set and ranks third with her 121 total blocks. Alhassan also checks in 12th in the country in hitting efficiency at .431. Senior middle Simone Antwi ranks 24th in the nation with her .402 clip. Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino ranks 16th in the NCAA with 11.32 assists per set
· As a team, the Gators lead the SEC overall on the season in hitting efficiency (.304), kills per set (14.14) and blocks per set (3.06). Florida additionally leads the league through conference play in blocks (2.92/s)
· The Gators have posted double-digit blocks in 14 of 17 matches this year with a season high 17 at Kentucky Sunday in Lexington
· UF has limited its opponents to a .200 efficiency or lower on nine different occasions, while Florida boasts a season-best efficiency of .517 against Texas A&M on Oct. 9 when the Gators posted their lowest error match of the year (six attack and three service errors)
· Aggressive behind the service line, the Gators have served up four or more aces in all but four matches this season and dropped a season high seven against Sunshine State rival FSU
· UF has been perfect receiving in one match in 2015 (San Diego State)
· Florida is 4-2 against top-25 opponents so far this season, but 0-3 in five-set matches (at Hawaii, at Missouri, at Arkansas)
· UF's clash with Kentucky this past Sunday in Lexington was it's sixth top-10 match this season
LAST WEEK HIGHLIGHTS | Florida Match Notes | Head Coach Mary Wise Monday (10.19) Press Conference
The Gators made it four consecutive SEC victories with a pair of road wins last week, first a sweep at Tennessee in mid-week action before a 3-1 win at No. 20 Kentucky Sunday afternoon. Florida improved to 13-4 on the season, 5-3 in the SEC, and will return home this weekend for match ups with Arkansas and Missouri Friday and Sunday, respectively. Florida's win on Rocky Top gave the Gators four SEC sweeps, while its victory at Kentucky improved the Orange and Blue to 4-2 against ranked opponents in 2015. The Gators held Kentucky to its lowest hitting efficiency in SEC play (.167) and posted a season-best 17 blocks to avenge an earlier loss to the Wildcats. After three straight early SEC slip-ups against Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri, the Gators will again look to consecutively avenge those losses when they host the Razorbacks and Tigers in the O'Connell Center. Sophomore middle Rhamat Alhassan (12K, 10B), fellow classmate Carli Snyder (11K, 17D) and senior outside hitter éiva Recek (10K, 13D) all notched double-doubles Sunday against Kentucky, Snyder with a career-high 17 digs and Alhassan with her third double-digit block performance of the season to lead Florida.
FLORIDA VS ARKANSAS BROADCAST INFORMATION
Arkansas Razorbacks (Oct. 23)
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network (Tiffany Greene, Missy Whittemore)
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Radio: ESPN Gainesville
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
UF | ARKANSAS SERIES HISTORY
· 2015 Record: 13-5, 3-3 SEC
· Series Record: Florida leads, 37-3 (all under Mary Wise)
· 3-set: 21-1; 4-set: 12-0; 5-set: 4-2
· Home: 16-0 | Away: 15-2 | Neutral: 6-1
· Last Time Out: Oct. 4, 2015 at Fayetteville | L, 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 16-18)
FLORIDA VS MISSOURI BROADCAST INFORMATION
Missouri Tigers (Oct. 25)
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC Network + (Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore)
Radio: ESPN Gainesville
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
UF | MISSOURI SERIES HISTORY
· 2015 Record: 17-2, 5-1 SEC (host Mississippi State Friday)
· Series Record: Florida leads, 4-3 (all under Mary Wise)
· 3-set: 3-1; 4-set: 1-1; 5-set: 0-1
· Home: 2-1 | Away: 1-2 | Neutral: 1-0
· Last Time Out: Sept. 30, 2015 at Columbia | L, 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 19-25, 10-15)
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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