Gators can cap Revenge Week with a win over Missouri
Sunday, October 25, 2015 | Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 15-ranked Gators volleyball team has an opportunity to cap Revenge Week this afternoon at the O'Connell Center.
The Gators (14-4, 6-3 SEC) aren't calling it that, but you know they are thinking it with Missouri (18-2, 6-1) in town. Florida won the first two sets at Missouri on Sept. 30 before crumbling as the Tigers stormed back to win the final three sets.
The loss was sandwiched between a home loss to Kentucky and a road loss at Arkansas. The Gators were a team in flux by the time they walked off the court at Arkansas on Oct. 4 reeling from a third consecutive conference defeat, a first in the program's rich history.
However, Florida has rebounded nicely with a five-match win streak entering this afternoon's contest against the Tigers.
The last two of those wins -- at Kentucky on Sunday and at home Friday night in a sweep over Arkansas -- highlight Florida's recent resurgence.
The Gators played one of their most complete matches Friday, sweeping Arkansas with a crisp effort that relied heavily on the improved communication between players Coach Mary Wise stressed in the wake of the three-game losing streak.
"Everything everyone was doing was just so on-point the entire time,'' Florida setter Mackenzie Dagostino told the SEC Network. "We passed so well. When we pass like that, it makes it so easy for any setter who comes in to run a really fast, consistent offense."
This is a talented Gators team that has already proven it can defeat the best in the country.
Florida handed No. 2-ranked Texas its only loss of the season last month on the Longhorns' home court.
Still, Florida lacked consistency both offensively and defensively and it showed during the three-game skid as the Gators looked out of sync.
Florida enters today's match fourth in the SEC at the midway point of the conference schedule. That is plenty of time to climb back toward the top if the Gators can continue to play the way they have of late.
"That's where the SEC is. You've got to have your A-game every single day,'' Wise said. "The best thing is how much our team has improved."
What has the improvement meant?
The Gators avenged their loss to Kentucky. They avenged their loss at Arkansas.
Is Missouri next?
It would be a perfect way to cap Revenge Week for the Gators.
