Gators ready to play at their home away from home
Friday, December 11, 2015 | Volleyball, Scott Carter
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Florida volleyball team arrived here late Wednesday night in preparation for today's Sweet 16 matchup against Wisconsin.
The Gators are more than 1,000 miles from home, but in some ways, they feel right at home. Florida has played at Gregory Gym, homecourt of the host Longhorns, in five of the past six seasons. Florida enjoyed one of its biggest wins of the season in September when it knocked off then-No. 3 Texas, 3-1.
The winner of today's Florida-Wisconson match faces the Texas-UCLA winner on Saturday in the Austin Regional final.
The Gators like their chances any time they step onto the floor at Gregory Gym.
"We have full composure playing there,'' senior Nikki O'Rourke said. "We've been there. It's nothing new for us. We've played there mutliple times, so there's kind of a comfort level."
Sophomore Carli Snyder has played three matches in two seasons inside the gym, built in 1930.
"We have performed really well,'' Snyder said. "We're going to go in and try to make the gym ours. We can treat it like the O'Dome almost. We're just going to make Texas our O'Dome and go out there and play."
This is the fifth time in school history the Gators have made a stop in Austin to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Florida last played in the postseason here in 2012.
"We're thrilled to be, at this point in the season, back in Austin, a place we're familiar with,'' Gators coach Mary Wise said.
