Gators Host Top-5 Opponents, VERT Challenge in O’Dome Return

Friday, August 25

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

Texas

The No. 12 Gators open with a pair of NCAA volleyball heavyweights.

Gators Host Top-5 Opponents, VERT Challenge in O’Dome Return

Thursday, August 24, 2017 | Volleyball

An abundance of pre-, in-, and post-match festivities and promotions add to Florida's season debut

By: Zach Dirlam

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – New arena. New uniforms. New team. Two top-five opponents. Free t-shirts. Tailgating and a dunk tank. Scott Stricklin serving a volleyball. (Seriously.) Florida volleyball's season-opening VERT Challenge, their first matches inside Exactech Arena / O'Connell Center since last year's $64.5 million renovations, has it all.

The No. 12 Gators will face No. 1 Texas Friday (Aug. 25) at 7 p.m. and No. 5 Nebraska Saturday (Aug. 26), returning to the O'Dome in the grandest of fashions.

Why all the hype? FloridaGators.com senior writer Chris Harry explains.

.@GatorsChris details our mission to pack the O'Dome!

(And tells you where to have pre-match fun ??) #Operation6k https://t.co/z85MCIdtL0 pic.twitter.com/Yr1LRjRzxx
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) August 21, 2017

New uni swag ??

Going all out for #Operation6k and No. 1 Texas tomorrow night. 7 PM in the O'Dome! pic.twitter.com/o6vl2Qn4hv
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) August 24, 2017

SEC Network will televise both matches, and ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM will feature radio broadcasts with longtime play-by-play man Tom Collett and Josh Crow.

FLORIDA-TEXAS MATCH PROMOTIONS

T-Shirt Giveaway (starts at 5 p.m.) – First 2,000 fans and 1,000 students will receive a free "Point Florida" t-shirt
- Fans can pick up their shirts in the Dance Studio, students can pick theirs up at Gate 3 before entering the arena
Gate 1 Tailgating – Country 103.7 FM will broadcast live outside the O'Dome (more activities inside)
Student "Block Party" Tailgate (Gate 3) – Magic 101.3 will DJ the event, which features a dunk tank, giveaways, and other tailgate games (i.e. – cornhole, spike ball, ladder golf)
Kid's Korner (Gate 4) – Features a poster-making station, standing cutouts of Florida volleyball players, a photo booth, spike ball, and a face painter
Honorary First Serves – Athletic Director Scott Stricklin and Florida student-athletes
Post-match Autographs – Florida volleyball players will sign autographs for fans following the match

TICKET INFORMATION | Gator Ticket Office Online | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Season Ticket Prices:

Reserved (Sections 23, 25, 27, 29) – Sold Out
General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $35 [ages 13 and up]
Students – FREE [with valid Gator1 ID]
Courtside Season Pass – Sold Out
Loge Seating (in front of the Sideline Club) – $75 [all ages]

Single-Match Ticket Prices:

Reserved (Sections 23, 25, 27, 29) | $6 [all ages]
General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) | $4 [ages 13 and up] / FREE [ages 12 and under]

Group Ticket Information – Aug. 25 vs. Texas:

Groups of 15-49 | $3 tickets
- Promo Code: VERT
Groups of 50+ | $2 tickets
- Promo Code: VERT50

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday, Aug. 25, vs. No. 1 Texas | 7 p.m. ET
TV: Live on SEC Network | Stream: Watch ESPN | Radio Stream (Tom Collett & Josh Crow) + live on ESPN Gainesville (98.1 FM / 850 AM) | Live Stats

Saturday, Aug. 26, vs. No. 5 Nebraska | 5 p.m. ET
TV: Live on SEC Network | Stream: Watch ESPN | Radio Stream (Tom Collett & Josh Crow) + live on ESPN Gainesville (98.1 FM / 850 AM) | Live Stats

GATORS' PRESEASON PUB
Florida debuts as a preseason top-15 team for a 26th consecutive year, the third-longest active streak in the nation. The Gators, who won a share of their 22nd league title last season, were voted No. 1 in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll as well.

These matches are the first of seven Florida will play against teams who garnered a preseason national ranking. Six of those matches against ranked opponents will take place inside Exactech Arena.

The Gators return five starters as well as their libero, in addition to bringing back 14 of their 16 letterwinners from a year ago. Four of those returning starters—Rhamat Alhassan, Caroline Knop, Allie Monserez, Carli Snyder—earned AVCA All-America honors.

Last season's team led the nation in hitting percentage for a second consecutive year. The Gators finished with a 27-4 overall record and a 16-2 record in SEC play, sharing the league crown with Missouri.

SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS
Texas | 2016 season synopsis: 27-5 overall, 14-2 Big 12, NCAA runner-up

Florida leads: 14-9 (14-8 under Mary Wise)
3-set: 3-4 | 4-set: 3-3 | 5-set: 8-2
Home: 6-4 | Away: 6-4 | Neutral: 2-1
Last Time Out: Dec. 12, 2015, NCAA Regional Championship at Austin, Texas – L, 2-3 (25-22, 22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-17)
Notable: Florida is 2-14 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams (1-3 in such matches at home)

SCOUTING THE CORNHUSKERS
Nebraska | 2016 season synopsis: 31-3 overall, 18-2 Big Ten, NCAA Semifinalist

Florida trails: 2-8 (2-6 under Mary Wise)
3-set: 0-4 | 4-set: 0-2 | 5-set: 2-2
Home: 1-1 | Away: 0-3 | Neutral: 1-4
Last Time Out: Aug. 26, 2016, VERT Challenge in Eugene, Ore. – L, 1-3 (27-25, 15-25, 16-25, 21-25)
Notable: Florida topped Nebraska, 3-2, at the 2010 Runza/AVCA Showcase in Omaha, Neb., and won another five-set match at home in 1997