No. 2 Gators Defeat Eastern Washington 3-1 in Outrigger Resorts Challenge Opener

Thursday, September 10

Honolulu, HI

10:30 PM

Florida Gators

5-0

Eastern Washington

4-4

EWU

Florida

No. 2 Gators Defeat Eastern Washington 3-1 in Outrigger Resorts Challenge Opener

Friday, September 11, 2015 | Volleyball

Box Score

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino turned in her third double-double of the season with 42 assists and 15 digs, while senior outside hitter éiva Recek put down a team-best 15 kills in the Gators' 3-1 victory over Eastern Washington to open play at the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge in Oahu.

The No. 2 Gators (5-0) held the Eagles (4-4) to just a .101 hitting efficiency in the four-set win (25-9, 25-17, 22-25, 25-16) thanks to the stellar defensive efforts of the nation's leading blocker Rhamat Alhassan, who hit .667 with 12 kills on 18 errorless swings (.667) to accompany nine roofs at the net, and senior libero Nikki O'Rourke, who posted 13 digs to aid UF's back-row efforts.

While the Gators hit .414 as a team, errors on both sides of the net -- Florida service errors and EWU attack errors -- were a big part of the story Thursday.

Junior right side Alex Holston notched 11 kills, served up an ace and added two blocks, while redshirt freshman Lindsey Rogers, who earned her first career start as a Gator, chipped in a career-high nine digs. Seniors Simone Antwi (.583) and Gabby Mallette (.357) both contributed as the Gators had five players hit above .350.

After dominating the first set, 25-9, the Orange and Blue were tested early in the second before hitting the gas pedal following a 14-all tie to close out the frame out with an 11-3 run for the 2-0 lead at the break. Eastern Washington took the third set 25-22 to force the decisive fourth. A back-and-forth fourth set ensued until the Gators took advantage of a two Eagle errors and distributed the ball to senior middle Simone Antwi for three straight kills to go up 20-14.

Eastern Washington felt the wrath of four Recek swings for four of Florida's next five points, while Alhassan slammed down match point for a 25-16 final.

Next up, the Gators will face their third ranked opponent of the week in No. 16 Hawai'ia. Friday's match with the Rainbow Wahine will air on OCSports and stream live on BigWest.tv, while Tom Collett will have all the action both Friday and Saturday on ESPN Gainesville (FM 95.3, AM 850).

MARY'S MINUTE

“In a match where we weren't as precise as we would like to be, Rhamat (Alhassan) and Nikki (O'Rourke) continued to do so many great things for us defensively, they really were key to us beating a very inspired, hard-working Eastern Washington team.”

NUMBERS OF NOTE

· 46 | Assists against the Eagles for the nation's leading setter entering the Outrigger Resorts Challenge. Senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino notched her eighth career double-double as a Gator and has 42 assists or more in every match this season for the Gators

· 10 | Blocks for the Gators as a team, compared to EWU's three. Florida has double-digit roofs in four of five matches so far in 2015

· 9 | Blocks for sophomore middle Rhamat Alhassan, who leads the nation with 2.50 blocks per set this season

· 5 | Gators that hit 1.000 in UF's 25-9 first-set victory -- Rhamat Alhassan (2-2), Alex Holston (1-1), Gabby Mallette (2-2) and Abby Detering (1-1)

· 1 | First start as a Gator for redshirt freshman DS Lindsey Rogers, who scooped up a career-high nine digs, and first appearance at Florida for freshman middle blocker Taelor Kellum

UP NEXT

The Gators will play Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge host and No. 16 Hawai'i Friday evening in their second match of the tournament in Honolulu. While match time is slated for 7 p.m. HAST, Gator fans on the east coast can watch the OCSports live stream at 1 a.m. Saturday morning ET with the six-hour time difference.

FLORIDA AT HAWAII INFORMATION

University of Hawaii (Sept. 11)

Time: 7 p.m. HAST / 1 a.m. Sept. 12 ET

Live Stream: OCSports

Radio: ESPN Gainesville

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

UF | HAWAII SERIES HISTORY

· 2015 Record: 5-0

· Series Record: Florida leads, 4-2 (4-2 under Mary Wise)

· 3-set: 1-1; 4-set: 2-0; 5-set: 1-1

· Home: 1-0 | Away: 2-0 | Neutral: 1-2

· Last Time Out at Honolulu: Sept. 2, 2006 | W, 3-0 (30-20, 30-26, 30-23)