GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite valiant efforts from middle blockers Rhamat Alhassan and Rachael Kramer, the top-ranked Gators (14-1, 6-1 SEC) fell, 3-1, to No. 8 Kentucky (16-2, 7-0) in what was the third top-10 matchup in SEC history Sunday afternoon.
 
Kramer logged 15 kills and just four errors on 26 attempts to post a .423 hitting percentage. The sophomore added three blocks (one solo) to total a team-high 17 points. Alhassan finished with 10 kills and only one error on 22 attacks for a .409 clip. The three-time All-American also turned in six blocks to tally 13 points.
 
For the week, Alhassan finished with 30 kills and one error on 48 attempts, registering a .604 hitting percentage, along with 11 total blocks for 36 points.
 
Kentucky's offense, ranked fourth nationally entering this weekend (.329), hit an impressive .309 against the Gators' defense, which came into the weekend ranked sixth in opponent hitting percentage (.139). Florida's offense found some footing in the third set, as Carli Snyder broke out for six kills and no errors, though it finished with a .200 clip.
 
The first two sets were decided by five and three points, respectively, and the Gators fought back from a 12-5 deficit in the third. Florida also faced a 23-21 deficit late in the third, before rattling off a 4-0 run to win the set. Kentucky won the fourth set decisively (25-16).


 
NOTABLES

• Rachael Kramer's 15 kills were a career high for a four-set match, topping her previous four-set high of 13 from last season's win over Tennessee (Oct. 2, 2016)
• The Gators recorded double-digit blocks for a fourth consecutive match and for the 12th time in 15 matches this year
• Sunday was just the third time all season the Gators did not lead the match in digs
• This is just the second time all season the Gators allowed their opponent to hit over .185, and only Arkansas (.253) had eclipsed that mark prior to Sunday
• This is the first time in school history the Gators lost a match during the regular season as the nation's No. 1 team (27-1 record), and their all-time record as the No. 1 team fell to 32-3
• Florida's overall record against Kentucky falls to 50-13 and to 48-6 under head coach Mary Wise
• Florida's 14-0 start to the year was the fourth-longest winning streak to open a season in school history

 
UP NEXT
Florida travels to The Yellowhammer State for weekend matchups with Alabama and Auburn. The Gators face Alabama Friday night and Auburn Sunday afternoon.
 
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