No. 4 Gators Open Home Season with Bubly Invitational

Friday, August 31

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

#7 Southern California

Tickets

No. 4 Gators Open Home Season with Bubly Invitational

Thursday, August 30, 2018 | Volleyball

Florida faces No. 7 USC, Louisville and UCF over the three-day tournament

By: Katie Callahan

Match Notes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 4 Florida Gators open up the home portion of their schedule with the Bubly Invitational, featuring three great matches in Exactech Arena.

On Friday at 7 p.m., the Gators face No. 7 Southern California. The last time the Trojans traveled to Gainesville in Dec. of 2017, Florida mounted a tremendous comeback to win in five sets and move on to the program's eighth NCAA National Semifinal.

Florida then plays Louisville on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Cardinals are receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll. UF has not faced Louisville since the 2005 season, where Florida swept the Cardinals in Omaha, Neb.

To close out the Bubly Invitational, Florida faces UCF at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Gators have not faced the since Knights since the 2014 season, where Florida topped UCF 3-1.

SEC Network will air Friday night's match, with Paul Sunderland and Missy Whittemore on the call, while both Saturday and Sunday's matches will be streamed on the SEC Network +.

ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM will feature radio broadcasts during all three matches, with longtime play-by-play man Tom Collett and Josh Crow.

These three matches will be the first opportunity for many Gator fans to see the 2018 squad, which consists of seven newcomers. One of those newcomers, reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Thayer Hall, became the first Florida Gator freshman in the Mary Wise-era to record at least 20 kills in her collegiate debut (Nebraska, 20).

No. 4 Florida at No. 7 Southern California Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Friday, Aug. 31 | 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network | Live Stream: SEC Network | Live Stats: Sidearm/Statbroadcast | Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM

Series Information – No. 4 Florida vs. No. 7 Southern California
Trojans | 2018 season synopsis: 3-0 overall

This is the 10th meeting between the Gators and the Trojans
Florida trials: 4-5
3-set: 1-3 | 4-set: 1-2 | 5-set: 2-0
Home: 2-0 | Away: 1-3 | Neutral: 1-2
Last Time Out: Dec. 9, 2017 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 26-24, 15-11) | NCAA Regional Final

No. 4 Florida vs. Louisville Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Saturday, Sept. 1 | 5 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network + | Live Stats: Sidearm/Statbroadcast | Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM

Series Information – No. 4 Florida vs. Louisville
Cardinals | 2018 season synopsis: 3-0

This is the seventh meeting between the Gators and the Cardinals
Florida leads: 6-0
3-set: 5-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 1-0
Home: 4-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 2-0
Last Time Out: Dec. 9, 2005 | Omaha, Neb. | W, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-22)

No. 4 Florida vs. UCF Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Sunday, Sept. 2 | 3:30 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network + | Live Stats: Sidearm/Statbroadcast | Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM

Series Information – No. 4 Florida vs. UCF
Knights | 2018 season synopsis: 2-1

This is the 19th meeting between the Gators and the Knights
Florida leads: 18-0
3-set: 13-0 | 4-set: 4-0 | 5-set: 1-0
Home: 8-0 | Away: 7-0 | Neutral: 3-0
Last Time Out: Sept. 21, 2014 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-1 (28-30, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17)

Promotions:
Friday:

Giveaway - Black "Point Florida" T-shirts will be given out for the first 1500 fans in attendance. Shirts will be handed out beginning at 6 p.m.
Court Projection - Arrive early to every Gators home match this season for a brand new court projection!
Friday Night Block Party - Every Friday night match, UF students can play games, win prizes, get free food and more pre-match.
Kid's Corner - Face Painting, balloon artist, poster making, games and more! You can also meet Alberta and get your picture taken!
Rowdy Tunnel - UF Students, arrive early for the chance to be selected for the Rowdy Tunnel! Each Friday match, a Rowdy Tunnel will be selected to come down to the court and help cheer on the Gators as they run out prior to the match!
Free Admission with Gators Football Ticket - Gator Fans can get in free to Florida Volleyball matches on home Florida Football weekends by showing their ticket to Gators Football!
Post-match Autographs – Florida volleyball players will sign autographs for fans following the match

Saturday:

Giveaway: Posters, schedule cards, magnets, point Florida cards
Rhamat Alhassan Honda Award - Join the Gators as we recognize Rhamat Alhassan for receiving the distinguished Honda Award prior to the match!
Free Admission with Gators Football Ticket - Gator Fans can get in free to Florida Volleyball matches on home Florida Football weekends by showing their ticket to Gators Football!

Sunday:

Giveaway: Posters, schedule cards, magnets, point Florida cards
Kid's Corner - Face Painting, balloon artist, poster making, games and more! You can also meet Alberta and get your picture taken
Kid's Tunnel - Kid's 12 and under can line the tunnel as the team runs out onto the court.
Sunday Spike Line - Every Sunday, kids in 8th grade and under are invited down to the court following select matches to spike the ball over a lowered net.
Free Admission with Gators Football Ticket - Gator Fans can get in free to Florida Volleyball matches on home Florida Football weekends by showing their ticket to Gators Football!
Post-match Autographs – Florida volleyball players will sign autographs for fans following the match

Parking Information:

For those wanting to attend the 4 p.m. match on Friday, the garage in the main O'Dome lot will be lifted at 2 p.m. and campus parking lot restrictions are lifted at 3:30 p.m.
For Saturday's matches, the main O'Dome lot will be closed due to football. Alternative parking can be found at Garage 9 (south of Archer on Gale Lemerand). From 3:30-4:30, the shuttle is free for those who are attending volleyball. Anyone who arrives after 4:30 may be subject to pay.

2018 Ticket Information
Single-match and season tickets are still available for the 15 home matches this season. The Gators face four NCAA qualifiers in Exactech Arena – USC, Louisville, Missouri and LSU).

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 09*, 11*, 13*, 15*, 23, 25, 27, 29) – $50 [all ages]
General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $35 [ages 13 and up]
Courtside Season Pass (subject to availability) – $150 [all ages]
Loge Seating (subject to availability) [in front of the Sideline Club] – $75 [all ages]

Single-Match Ticket Prices:

Reserved (Sections 09*, 11*, 13*, 15*, 23, 25, 27, 29) | $6 [all ages]
General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) | $4 [ages 13 and up] / FREE [ages 12 and under]
Student General Admission – FREE [with valid Gator1 ID]