No. 15 Gators Welcome Alabama, Tennessee to the O’Connell Center This Weekend
Friday, November 13, 2015 | Volleyball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Just three more chances to take in a regular-season home Gator volleyball match remain, and No. 15 Florida will host Alabama and Tennessee in two this weekend in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The Gators, who rank No. 4 in the country in RPI, lead the country with a .317 hitting efficiency and own an 18-5 overall record (10-4 SEC), host the Crimson Tide in a 7 p.m. showdown Friday night, while the Vols and Gators will square off for the second time this season Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
The pair of home matches for the Orange and Blue highlight an exciting week for Gator Nation, as the program signed six future Gators to National Letters of Intent Wednesday on the first day of the fall signing period.
Both matches will stream live on SEC Network + with Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore on the call. Alabama (13-13, 7-5 SEC) and Florida will meet for the first time this season, the Tide winners of three straight entering Friday. The Vols, who fell in three at South Carolina in mid-week action, are 20-10 on the season, 6-9 in conference play. UF is undefeated all-time against Alabama, while the Gators are 24-6 all-time at home against Tennessee and swept the Vols on Oct. 14 in Knoxville.
#SnapBackSwag is in full effect Friday against Alabama! The first 500 fans receive Gator Volleyball snapback hats. The first 300 students to Friday's Gators-Tide match will receive FREE Subway.
After putting together a season-long nine-match win streak, the Orange and Blue lost a five-set heartbreaker at Auburn Sunday. The Gators will look to rebound Friday at home with its best volleyball with just five more regular-season matches remaining -- including Senior Day in the O'Dome Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. The 2015 NCAA Selection Show will air at 9 p.m. Nov. 29 on ESPNU.
Florida not only leads the nation in hitting efficiency (.317), but ranks No. 17 in opponent hitting efficiency (.156) and kills per set (14.28), while checking in 18th in the NCAA in blocks per set (2.83) -- paced by sophomore middle Rhamat Alhassan's nation-leading 1.70 per set.
LAST WEEK HIGHLIGHTS
· UF has 13 sweeps in 2015, nine in SEC play and has swept eight of its last 10 opponents, including Mississippi State last Friday at home in the O'Dome
· Sophomore middle Rhamat Alhassan leads the nation in blocks per set (1.70) has led Florida in blocking in 20 of 23 matches this season including both matches versus Mississippi State and at Auburn
· First up for the Gators against the MSU Bulldogs, fifteen kills each for Alhassan and junior Alex Holston helped guide the Gators past a scrappy Mississippi State squad Friday on the eve of Homecoming with their ninth-straight victory and UF's 13th sweep of the season (25-18, 27-25, 25-28)
· Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino tied her season high for assists in a three-set match, with 46, and senior libero Nikki O'Rourke helped stabilize UF's defensive efforts with 18 digs in the back row
· Sunday, despite double-doubles from Dagostino, éiva Recek, 19 slams from Holston to lead UF and 33 digs from O'Rourke -- third most in a single match in school history -- Florida came out on the short end of a five-set nailbiter at Auburn Arena (22-25, 25-16, 26-24, 21-25, 16-18)
· Dagostino added her team-leading seventh double-double with a season-tying 52 assists and 11 digs, while Recek's 14 kills and 16 digs counted as her sixth double-double of the campaign and her staggering 25th career double-dip
· Speaking of Recek, the Florida senior was one of 12 around the country named one of the AVCA's Coaches 4 Coaches scholarship recipients, which will pay her way to AVCA Convention for networking as she starts her collegiate coaching career following her final year of eligibility with the Orange and Blue
GATOR SEASON NOTABLES | Head Coach Mary Wise Monday (11.9) Press Conference
· After being tops in the RPI two weeks ago at No. 1, Florida checks in at No. 4 in this week's RPI rankings after playing a gruesome non-conference schedule that included seven straight matches on the road to start the season. Florida is additionally 4-2 against top-25 opponents in 2015
· Florida ranks No. 1 in the nation in hitting efficiency (.317), No. 17 in opponent hitting efficiency (.156) and kills per set (14.28) and 18th in blocks per set (2.83)
· Gator sophomore middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan paces the nation with 1.70 blocks per set and ranks seventh with her 141 total blocks. Alhassan also checks in 11th in the country in hitting efficiency at .429. Senior middle Simone Antwi ranks 37th in the nation with her .390 clip. Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino ranks 17th in the NCAA with 11.37 assists per set
· As a team, the Gators lead the SEC overall on the season in hitting efficiency (.317), opponent hitting efficiency (.156), kills per set (14.28) and blocks per set (2.83). Florida additionally leads the league through SEC play in hitting percentage (.309) and opponent efficiency (.151)
· Florida has 13 sweeps in 2015, nine in SEC play and has swept eight of its last 10 matches
· The Gators have posted double-digit blocks in 15 of 23 matches this year with a season high 17 at Kentucky Oct. 18
· UF has limited its opponents to a .200 efficiency or lower on 13 different occasions -- including a negative efficiency twice -- 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)
· Florida has had impressive single-digit attack errors in six of its last 10 matches as of late
· Aggressive behind the service line, the Gators have served up four or more aces in all but six 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)
· The Gators strung together a season-best nine match win streak after dropping three straight early in SEC play, but Auburn snapped the win streak Sunday with its 3-2 victory
· Florida is 4-2 against top-25 opponents so far this season, but 0-4 in five-set matches (all on the road)
FLORIDA VS ALABAMA BROADCAST INFORMATION
Alabama Crimson Tide (Nov. 13)
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC Network +
Radio: ESPN Gainesville
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
UF | BAMA SERIES HISTORY
· 2015 Record: 13-13, 7-5 SEC
· Series Record: Florida leads, 40-0 (38-0 under Mary Wise)
· 3-set: 36-0; 4-set: 4-0; 5-set: 0-0
· Home: 18-0 | Away: 19-0 | Neutral: 3-0
· Last Time Out: Nov. 7, 2014 at Gainesville | W, 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-20)
FLORIDA VS TENNESSEE BROADCAST INFORMATION
Tennessee Volunteers (Nov. 15)
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC Network +
Radio: ESPN Gainesville
Live Stats: Gametracker
UF | UT SERIES HISTORY
· 2015 Record: 20-10, 6-9 SEC
· Series Record: Florida leads, 46-12 (42-7 under Mary Wise)
· 3-set: 36-1; 4-set: 8-4; 5-set: 2-7
· Home: 24-6 | Away: 21-5 | Neutral: 1-1
· Last Time Out: Oct. 14, 2015 at Knoxville | W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-23)
ALABAMA PROMOTIONS
· Presenting sponsor: Campus USA
· Presenting sponsor: Independent Alligator
· Gator Volleyball Snapback Hat
The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Gators Volleyball snapback hat
· Subway
· Free Subway to the first 300 students (enter Gate 3)
TENNESSEE PROMOTIONS
· Presenting sponsor: Campus USA
· Presenting sponsor: Gainesville Health & Fitness
· 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
· Kids Club Check-In
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