Box Score | Highlights

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 11 Florida Gators defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks in five-sets on Friday night in front of a packed crowd at the Carolina Volleyball Center.

With the win, the Gators extend their winning streak to 12-straight matches.

Florida won the first set, 25-17, then followed that up with a 25-15 win in the second set. South Carolina took the next two sets, 25-18 and 26-24 to force a deciding fifth set. It was a back-and-forth battle in the final set, but Florida pulled out the 15-12 win to stay undefeated in the league.

Thayer Hall led the way offensively for Florida, registering 16 kills on the night. Holly Carlton followed with 13 kills of her own and Rachael Kramer pitched in 11.

Allie Monserez controlled the setting game for the Gators, dishing out 24 assists on the evening. Marlie Monserez registered 18 on the match.  

Allie Gregory and Allie Monserez both controlled the backcourt for Florida, each posting 14 digs on the night.

The Gators finished with 10 team blocks, led by a career-best nine blocks by Rachael Kramer.

Allie Monserez posted a double-double for Florida – her eighth of the season. She registered 24 assists and 14 digs on the night.  

The Gators move to 7-0 in the SEC for the 21st time under head coach Mary Wise.

Florida returns home on Sunday to face Alabama for the second time this season. The match is slated for a 1:30 p.m. start and will stream on the SEC Network +.

How it Happened

• The Gators controlled the first set of the match, never trailing in the frame. The Gamecocks were within striking distance at 16-12, but Paige Hammons led the Gators on a four-point service run to stretch the lead. UF was able to hold on from there, taking the set, 25-17.
  • Florida hit .458 in the first set, racking up 13 kills along the way. Thayer Hall paced the offensive with five kills, while Rachael Kramer, Taelor Kellum and Paige Hammons each pitched in two.
• With the second set tied 10-10, Florida registered back-to-back kills from Holly Carlton and Thayer Hall to swing the momentum in direction of the Gators. UF would close the match out on a 15-5 run behind four kills, two blocks and nine South Carolina errors.
  • The Gators registered 10 kills in the second frame, hitting .471 as a squad and limiting South Carolina to a .065 hit clip. Thayer Hall and Rachael Kramer both posted three kills in the frame and Paige Hammons added two.  
• The teams were in a tight battle during the early portion of the third set, but with the set tied 6-6, the Gamecocks went on a 13-6 run to go ahead 19-12 late in the frame. The Gators battled to within six points at 24-18, but South Carolina closed it out with a block to force a fourth set.
  • UF only hit .088 as a team in the third set, recording 12 kills along the way. Thayer Hall had five kills in the frame and Holly Carlton added in three of her own. Blocking was the key difference in the third – South Carolina recorded six, while Florida did not register any in the frame.  
• The fourth set was down to the wire for both teams, with the score tied 24-24 late in the frame. South Carolina took a 25-24 lead after a kill from Brittany McLean and forced a deciding fifth set after a UF attack error.  
  • Florida posted 18 kills in the fourth set, hitting .400 as a squad. Holly Carlton recorded five blocks in the frame, while Rachael Kramer and Taelor Kellum both registered four.
• The score of the deciding fifth set was tied 7-7 before a Thayer Hall kill gave the Gators an 8-7 lead going into the media timeout. Florida continued that run thanks to two kills by Taelor Kellum, taking an 11-8 lead and held onto the lead, securing match point with a kill from Rachael Kramer.  
  • Holly Carlton led the way with three kills in the final set and Taelor Kellum added two.

Notables

• Thayer Hall recorded 16 kills in the return to her home state
• Rachael Kramer and Holly Carlton both recorded double-digit kills as well, finishing with 11 and 13, respectively
• Kramer also posted a career-best nine blocks
• Allie Monserez picked up her eighth double-double of the season, recording 24 assists and 14 digs
• Florida recorded seven service aces as a team, led by Allie Monserez, who finished the match with three
• The Gators improve to 56-7 against the Gamecocks, including a 51-2 record under Mary Wise
• Florida moves to 4-1 against South Carolina in five-set matches
• The Gators improve to 3-2 in five-set matches this season
• UF improves to 26-5 in Columbia, S.C.
• Florida moves to 7-0 in the SEC for the 21st time under head coach Mary Wise
• The Gators extend their win streak to 12 matches

Thoughts from Coach Wise

• "It was a great effort on both sides of the net. South Carolina played really well and it took contributions from the whole team to be able to win this match on the road."

Up Next

• The Gators return home to face Alabama on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
• The match will be streamed on the SEC Network +
• Florida holds the 45-0 series advantage over the Crimson Tide, including a 43-0 record under Mary Wise

No. 11 Florida vs. Alabama
Time & Date: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 | 1:30 p.m.
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Live Stats: Sidearm
Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850 AM
Tickets: Gator Ticket Office

Series Information – No. 11 Florida vs. Alabama

• This is the 46th meeting between the two schools
• Florida holds the 45-0 series advantage, including a 43-0 record under Mary Wise
• 3-set: 41-0 | 4-set: 4-0 | 5-set: 0-0
• Home: 20-0 | Away: 22-0 | Neutral: 3-0
• Last Time Out: Sept. 30, 2018 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | W, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 26-24)

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