GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 3 Gators (24-1, 16-1 SEC) posted their second-highest hitting percentage of the season (.356) in a 3-1 win over Auburn, setting up a chance to win a share of their 23rd Southeastern Conference title Saturday at Missouri.
 
Florida tied its season high for kills in a four-set match (63), and its 10 errors were a season low for a four-set match. Two-time All-SEC outside hitter Carli Snyder led the way with 21 kills, tying her career high. The Gators also got double-digit kills from three-time All-American middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (13), as well as 2017 All-SEC selections Rachael Kramer (12) and Shainah Joseph (10). All four hit at least .370, with Kramer's .522 clip pacing the quartet.
 
Alhassan posted a match-high six blocks to go along with her .370 hitting percentage.
 
Led by two-time All-SEC libero Caroline Knop for the final three sets, the Gators' back row saw four individuals finish with double-digit digs for the fourth time this season. Knop and sophomore defensive specialist Allie Gregory tallied 14 apiece, freshman outside hitter Paige Hammons notched 13, and Snyder added 10 for her fifth consecutive double-double.
 
Florida struggled to find its footing in the first set, falling into a 19-14 hole it eventually narrowed to a 25-22 setback. Set two saw a rejuvenated squad rip off 19 kills and zero errors for a .613 hitting percentage and a 25-10 win. The Gators' defense stymied the Tigers in the third, holding them to a .043 clip. In the fourth, Florida broke an 18-18 tie by winning seven of the final 11 points and clinching the match.


 
NOTABLES

• Florida lost the first set for only the fourth time this season, but it improved to 3-1 in such matches
• The Gators allowed their opponent to hit above a .185 clip (.199) for just the third time in 25 matches this season
• Carli Snyder recorded the seventh 20-plus-point match of her career and her fifth of the season
• Snyder's 21-kill performance marked the second 20-kill match of her career, with the only other coming against Marshall last season (Sept. 17, 2016)
• Snyder's .432 hitting percentage was her second-highest efficiency rate of the season, only trailing her .517 clip in a sweep of Kentucky (Nov. 1)
• Snyder has 22 double-doubles in her last two seasons, including 11 this year, after recording seven altogether as an underclassman
• Rachael Kramer hit above .500 (minimum of 15 attempts) in a match for the sixth time this season and eighth time in her career
• Kramer has 13 matches with 10-plus kills this season after only having six a year ago
• Allie Gregory, who made her first collegiate start at libero in the first set, tied her career high with 14 digs
• Shainah Joseph tied her career high with seven digs
• Joseph finished with 10-plus kills for the eighth time this season and ninth time in her career
• Florida improved its all-time record against Auburn to 47-2, including a 43-1 mark under head coach Mary Wise
• Wise now boasts 899 career victories, leaving her one shy of becoming the third female coach in NCAA history (all divisions) to reach the 900-win plateau

 
UP NEXT
Florida faces Missouri Saturday afternoon, needing a win or Kentucky loss to guarantee at least a share of the SEC title. First serve in Columbia, Mo., is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET, with SEC Network + providing live streaming. Tom Collett will have the call for GatorVision's audio stream.
 
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