Team
Jim Burgess
The Gators can clinch a share their 22nd SEC title with a win, or clinch it outright with a win and Missouri loss on Saturday.
1
Auburn AU 15-15, 9-8 SEC
3
Winner Florida UF 25-3, 15-2 SEC
Auburn AU
15-15, 9-8 SEC
1
Final
3
Florida UF
25-3, 15-2 SEC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Auburn AU 21 25 19 14 (1)
Florida UF 25 22 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Zach Dirlam

No. 9 Gators Top Auburn, Move Within One Win of SEC Title

Rhamat Alhassan is the first Gator since Benavia Jenkins (2000) with multiple matches of 10-plus kills and 10-plus blocks in a season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Following Wednesday (Nov. 23) night's 3-1 victory over Auburn, the No. 9 Gators are now one win away from clinching a share of the program's 22nd SEC title.
 
Florida travels to Arkansas on Saturday (Nov. 26), and a win there will assure the Gators no worse than a share of the league title. With Kentucky's loss in its season finale Wednesday night, Florida can clinch the conference title outright with a win and a Missouri loss. Missouri concludes its regular season against Tennessee on Saturday night.
 
Although the Gators' high-octane offense struggled for much of the evening, their defense returned to form, holding Auburn to a .163 clip and totaling 12 blocks. Prior to Wednesday night, UF had gone six straight matches without double-digit blocks.
 
Junior All-American middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan, who tallied a team-high 16.5 points, led UF's defensive effort with 10 blocks. Three-time All-American right side Alex Holston added three, as did redshirt sophomore setter Allie Monserez.
 
Both Alhassan and junior outside hitter Carli Snyder logged double-doubles, finishing with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Snyder added 11 digs to her 20th double-digit-kill match of the year.
 
The Gators also got a standout defensive performance along the backline from junior libero Caroline Knop, who amassed 25 digs.
   
THE RECORDS
No. 9 Florida: 25-3, 15-2 SEC
Auburn: 15-15, 9-8 SEC
 

NOTABLES AND TRENDS
  • Tonight marked just the fourth time this season the Gators hit below .240, and prior to tonight's win it was 1-2 in such matches, with its victory coming at No. 13 Florida State back on Sep. 14
  • Florida has held 20 of its 28 opponents this season below a .200 clip, and it is undefeated in such matches
  • Rhamat Alhassan joined Texas A&M's Jazzmin Babers as the only other SEC player this season with multiple matches of 10-plus kills and 10-plus blocks
  • Alhassan is the first Gator since Benavia Jenkins (2000) to record multiple matches of 10-plus kills and 10-plus blocks in the same season
  • Tonight was Alhassan's sixth career match with 10-plus kills and 10-plus blocks, as she now has two in each of her three seasons as a Gator
  • Prior to Alhassan's six performances, no Gator since Sherri Williams (2004) had recorded such a double-double
  • Carli Snyder tallied a career-high three service aces
  • Alex Holston led the Gators in kills for the 13th time this season, finishing with 13
 
QUOTES FROM THE GATORS
Head coach Mary Wise on the team's change of mindset after splitting the first two sets…
"I think the third set we benefitted from (Auburn's) service errors. We didn't earn them. We said before the fourth set that we have to earn this. It just felt like we were steps behind blocking all night, until we finally got in rhythm. The very first place of that (fourth) set was a stuff block by Alex (Holston) and Rhamat (Alhassan). For Rhamat, 10 blocks is a really good night of work."
 
Coach Wise on traveling to Arkansas to try and clinch a share of the SEC title…
"This is usually how it goes—we play teams late that are playing their best volleyball. It's a quick turnaround and a huge challenge for our team. But there's a lot to play for."
 
Junior outside hitter Carli Snyder on what the team discussed during the set break with the match tied at 1-1…
"We just talked about controlling our side of the net … stick to our game plan and stick to what we know we can do."
 
Snyder on the implications of Saturday's Arkansas match…
"We definitely have a lot we are playing for, and we knew that going into these last two matches. We weren't looking ahead in any way. Now we can focus on Arkansas and give them our best shot. They're a great team, so I know we are going to come out and play for an SEC championship."
 

UP NEXT
The Gators will conclude their regular season Saturday (Nov. 26) afternoon at Arkansas.
 
First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed live via SEC Network +. Fans can also listen to the match on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 FM / 850 AM, with Tom Collett on the call.


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