Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It is a week later than originally scheduled, but the Gators will host the latest installment of their rivalry with Florida State Tuesday (Sep. 19) night in the Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. inside Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
 
Pre-match festivities will include a 3D court projection video.
 
The No. 3 Gators, off to their first 7-0 start since 2007, and No. 19 Seminoles both enter the match as ranked teams for a 10th consecutive meeting.
 
The in-state rivals split last season's series, with the Gators winning a four-set affair in Tallahassee and the Seminoles capturing a stunning 3-2 upset in the NCAA Tournament Second Round—which was played inside UF's Lemerand Athletic Center.
 
While the two programs have each won four of the last eight meetings, Florida has dominated the series in Mary Wise's 27 years as head coach. The Gators boast a 32-6 advantage over the Seminoles with Wise at the helm.

 
BROADCAST INFORMATION | Match Notes
Tuesday, Sep. 19 vs. No. 19 Florida State | 6 p.m. ET
Stream: SEC Network + / Watch ESPN (Tom Collett & Josh Crow) | Radio: Audio Stream (also available via ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM) | Live Stats
 

PROMOTIONS

• FREE "Block Party" t-tank tops – first 300 students
• Student "Block Party" (Gate 3) – tailgate games, plus a slice of Domino's pizza for first 200 students
• Kid's Korner (Gate 4 lobby) – poster-making station, photo booth
• Post-match autographs

 
NOTABLE NEWS & NUMBERS

• Florida remains one of three teams in the nation with three wins over ranked opponents—Northern Iowa (four) leads Division I, while Creighton holds three
• The Gators are all the way up to eighth nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.125) after holding its three opponents to a combined .088 clip last weekend
• Florida, which ranks ninth nationally in blocks per set (3.10), is one of three teams in the nation with two individuals ranked 25th or higher in blocks per set—Washington and Wisconsin are the others
• After totaling 26 blocks in 10 sets last weekend, Rhamat Alhassan leads the nation in blocks per set (2.04)
• Alhassan is also one of five players in the nation to post 12 blocks in a four-set match this year, doing so against Lipscomb last Saturday
• Carli Snyder ranks second in the nation and leads the SEC in service aces per set (0.68) after tallying nine last weekend
• Rachael Kramer ranks fourth nationally and leads the SEC in hitting percentage (.488)
• Cheyenne Huskey ranks 25th nationally and third in the SEC in blocks per set (1.45)

 
SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
No. 19 Florida State (6-1) | 2016 synopsis: 26-6 overall, 17-3 ACC (runner-up), NCAA Regional Semifinalist

• Series History: Florida leads, 39-20 (32-6 under Mary Wise)
• 3-set: 21-7 | 4-set: 12-5 | 5-set: 6-8
• Home: 23-6 | Away: 13-9 | Neutral: 3-5
• Last Time Out: Dec. 3, 2016 in Gainesville à L, 2-3 (25-13, 25-16, 23-25, 19-25, 12-15)

 
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