WASHINGTON -- After American University grabbed the first set from the No. 4 Gators 26-24, it was all Florida for the next three in a 3-1 victory for the Orange and Blue (2-0) in Washington, D.C. The Gators' win Sunday gave the University of Florida volleyball program its 900th all-time victory, 744 of those belonging to head coach Mary Wise.
Three double-doubles from seniors Mackenzie Dagostino (52A, 14D), éiva Recek (10K, 10D) and sophomore Carli Snyder (10K, 11D), highlighted the weekend finale for Florida (24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 25-23) in a packed and raucous Bender Arena, which set a new attendance record for the D.C. area universities at 2,629.
DMV natives Rhamat Alhassan, Alex Holston and Simone Antwi put on for the home crowd, Alhassan with 12 kills and nine blocks -- one shy of a double-double -- while Holston led all players on the floor with 18 kills and 21 points off of two block assists and two service aces. Antwi chipped in nine kills, a block and two digs for the Orange and Blue.
After UF evened the match at the break and handily took set three in 25-15 fashion, the Gators and Eagles (3-1) went wire-to-wire in the fourth and final set. American led nearly the whole way until Florida hit the gas after an Eagle kill that made the score 23-18 in favor of AU. The Gators put up seven straight points -- three being Holston kills -- and never looked back to win the fourth 25-23.
In addition to Dagostino, Recek and Snyder contributions on the defensive front with double-digit digs, senior libero Nikki O'Rourke also put up 13 scoops in the team effort.
MARY'S MINUTE
“In a tough environment with a very well-coached, hard-playing American team, I couldn't be more proud of the Gators and how we responded this afternoon.”
2015 RECORDS
Florida: 2-0
American: 3-1
· Sunday's match marked the third meeting between Florida and American. The Gators improved to 3-0 against the Eagles, 2-0 in matches against AU in DC
KEY NUMBERS
· 900 | Entering the 2015 season, Florida volleyball owned at an all-time program record of 898-188 (.827). With the two wins this weekend at JMU & American, the Gators made it 900 victories all-time in the history of the program
· 11 | Career high digs for sophomore outside hitter Carli Snyder, who notched her first career double-double with 10 slams and 11 scoops
· 10 | Blocks for the Gators, compared to American's six. Florida now has double-digit blocks in both its matches so far in 2015 (14 at JMU Saturday)
· 4 | Players Sunday with double-digit kills (Holston: 18, Alhassan: 12, Recek: 10, Snyder: 10)
· 4 | Players Sunday with double-digit digs (Dagostino: 14, O'Rourke: 13, Recek: 10, Snyder: 11)
UP NEXT
Florida continues its season-opening road swing at the VERT Challenge in Austin, Texas, next weekend before heading straight to Honolulu for the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge. First up, the Orange and Blue will take on its first two ranked opponents of the season at Gregory Gym in Austin with No. 13 Oregon and host No. 3 Texas Friday and Saturday, respectively.
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