Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida, which is the No. 2 overall seed for this year's NCAA Tournament and won a share of the program's 23rd Southeastern Conference title last week, begins postseason play Thursday night against Alabama State.
 
This is the seventh time in program history and first time since 2010 the Gators are an overall top-four seed. The Gators are 19-6 as an overall top-four seed, which includes a 7-1 mark at home. Florida advanced to the NCAA Semifinals four of the previous six times it was an overall top-four seed, including in 2003, when it reached the NCAA Championship.
 
In a rematch of last year's NCAA First Round matchup, Florida faces repeat Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament champion Alabama State. On paper, the matchup will be a defensive struggle, as both teams rank inside the top 10 nationally in opponent hitting percentage.
 
The winner of Thursday's 7 p.m. match will face the winner of the College of Charleston-Miami match, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION | Match Notes
Thursday, Nov. 30 vs. Alabama State | 7 p.m. ET
Streaming: SEC Network + (via Watch ESPN) [Tom Collett, Missy Whittemore] | Radio: Audio Stream [Ryan Urquhart, Josh Crow] (also available via ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM) | Live Stats
 
TICKET INFORMATION | Gainesville First & Second Rounds
Tickets for the NCAA First & Second Rounds are available online (follow this link for purchasing) and at the Gator Ticket Office, located between Gates 1 & 2 of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Tickets will also be available at the ticket office outside Gate 1 of Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center 90 minutes prior to the day's first match.
 
All-Session Tickets

• Reserved Seating – $15
• Adult General Admission – $12
• Child General Admission – $7
• Loge Seats – $30
• Courtside Seats – $40

 
Single-Match Tickets

• Reserved Seating – $10
• Adult General Admission – $7
• Child General Admission – $4
• Students – FREE with valid Gator1 ID

 
GAINESVILLE FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)

• First Round Matches | Thursday, Nov. 30
  • Match 1 (College of Charleston vs. Miami) – 4:30 p.m.
  • Match 2 (Alabama State vs. Florida) – 7 p.m.
• Second Round Match | Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. (winners of Match 1 & Match 2)

 
MEDIA INFORMATION / CREDENTIALING / LINKS
Media Contact: Zach Dirlam (ZachD@gators.ufl.edu) | Media Services/Credentialing Information (PDF)
 

• Florida Volleyball NCAA Tournament Record Book
• 2017 Florida Volleyball Media Supplement
• Interactive NCAA Tournament Bracket
• NCAA Tournament Bracket (PDF)
• Regional Bracket (PDF)

 
CREDENTIALING NOTE: If you were credentialed for the University of Florida regular season, you are automatically credentialed for all NCAA Tournament matches in Gainesville. Your credential will be available at Will Call (Gate 1 of Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center) one hour prior to first serve of Thursday's opening match, as well as an hour prior to first serve of Friday's match.


FLORIDA NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTABLES

• Florida is 8-1 this season against the 2017 NCAA Tournament field
• Florida's 28 all-time NCAA Tournament ties Arizona and UC Santa Barbara for the 10th-most in Division I history, trailing Penn State (37) Stanford (37), Hawaii (36), Nebraska (36), Southern California (35), UCLA (35), Texas (34), BYU (30), Colorado State (29)
• The Gators have made 23 Regional Semifinals and 15 Regional Championships in program history
• Florida is seeking its eighth all-time NCAA Semifinals appearance and its first since 2003, when it played in the NCAA Championship match
• Florida head coach Mary Wise boasts a 65-26 (.714) all-time record in the NCAA Tournament, with all her postseason appearances coming with the Gators
• The Gators carry a 66-27 (.710) all-time record in NCAA Tournament play
• The Gators are 51-7 (.864) when hosting NCAA Tournament matches in Gainesville

 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Alabama State | 28-10 overall, 18-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference

• Florida leads: 2-0 (2-0 under Mary Wise)
• 3-set: 2-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-0
• Home: 2-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-0
• NCAA Tournament series: Florida leads, 2-0
• Last Time Out: 2016 NCAA Tournament First Round in Gainesville --> W, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19)
• Notable: SWAC Tournament champions; won 20-plus matches each of the past five seasons; third NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014
• Top Player: Briana Dorsey, senior, middle blocker – ranks 14th nationally in hitting percentage (.409)

 
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