Box Score | Highlights | Match 1 Recap

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11 Gators' volleyball team swept the FIU Panthers in three sets on Friday night.

In its second match of the day, UF came out as strong as ever, taking the first set 25-13. The team continued that momentum in the second frame, winning 25-12 and had complete control in the third set thanks to a 19-0 service run by Thayer Hall to clinch the 25-7 victory.

Paige Hammons led the way with nine kills, tying her season-best mark (Texas, Jacksonville). Taelor Kellum posted eight kills on .889 hitting percentage, with no errors. Thayer Hall added seven kills into the mix as well.

Hammons and Kellum both had great days defensively at the night as well, coming away with four blocks and six blocks, respectively.

Allie Monserez dished out 20 assists and Allie Gregory added 15 digs in the victory.

The Gators return on Saturday at 2 p.m. to face the Army West Point Black Knights, who are 2-0 on the weekend and 5-7 on the season.  

How it Happened

• FIU jumped ahead early in the set, taking a 3-1 lead over Florida, but the Gators tied it at 4-4 and didn't look back from there. Holly Carlton went on a 6-0 service run and Paige Hammons followed with a four-point run of her own to but Florida up 12-6. UF then closed the set out on a 13-7 run to take the 1-0 advantage.
  • Florida hit a stellar .458 in the first set, collecting 10 kills along the way. Paige Hammons and Mia Sokolowski led the way with three apiece, followed by two kills from Holly Carlton, Thayer Hall and Rachael Kramer. UF forced FIU into a .000 hitting percentage in the frame.
• Florida never trailed in the second set, taking a 4-0 lead at the start behind the serves of Allie Monserez. FIU got to within five at 8-3, but Holly Carlton and Paige Hammons once again combined for two service runs to extend the lead to 12-5. The Gators tallied five kills and three blocks from that point on to secure the set.
  • The Gators totaled 11 kills on a .321 hit clip in the second set and only allowed the Panthers to hit -.091 in the frame. Thayer Hall led the way with four kills, followed by two kills apiece from Rachael Kramer, Paige Hammons and Taelor Kellum.  
• 19-0. That's what gave the Gators the advantage in the final set of the night, the 19-0 service run by freshman Thayer Hall. Florida took advantage of seven FIU errors during that stretch and did not waver in its intensity. FIU was able to sneak a few points onto the board over the last stretch, but the Gators held on to keep the Panthers in single digits.
  • UF hit .500 in the final set, with Taelor Kellum and Paige Hammons taking over offensively with five and four kills, respectively. Florida held the Panthers to a -.212 hitting percentage in the final frame.

 
Notables

• The 19-0 service run for Thayer Hall was the longest in program history, with records dating back to 2012. The next highest was 14 consecutive points by Abby Detering against Georgia on Nov. 1, 2015
• The last time the Gators held an opponent to only seven points in a set was against Arkansas on Nov. 10
• The Gators held FIU to a -.101 hitting percentage, the lowest OHP of the season
• Florida moves to 7-0 all-time against FIU, including a 5-0 record under Mary Wise
• The Gators are now 7-0 in three-set matches against the Panthers
• UF is now 4-0 in Gainesville against FIU
• Florida is now 2-0 in three-set matches this season

 
Thoughts from Mary Wise

• "As good as our offense was, this was about our defense – starting from our ability to put pressure on them behind the service line."

 
Players' Corner
Senior MB Taelor Kellum

• "As a team, we decided we needed to start playing more like the Gators and we committed to the game plan really well and everyone showed up tonight."

 
Sophomore OH Paige Hammons

• "We did a great job of following the game plan and really all working together. Our passing was on, which means our setting is going to be on and so will our hitting. It was a great team effort all together."

 
Freshman OH Thayer Hall

• "We agreed as a team that we had been coming out super slow and just underestimating some of the opponents we have across the net. Mary spoke to us before the match today about coming out strong and playing the Gator Way."

 
Up Next

• The Gators are back in action on Saturday against Army West Point at 2 p.m.
• Broadcast information and series information can be found below

 
No. 11 Florida vs. Army Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Saturday, Sept. 15 | 2 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network +  | Live Stats: Sidearm  | Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM
 
Series Information – No. 11 Florida vs. Army

• First meeting between the two schools

 
Promotions:
Saturday:

• 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

Parking Information:

• 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 12 p.m.- 1 p.m., the shuttle is free for those who are attending volleyball. Anyone who arrives after 1 p.m. may be subject to pay.

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]

 
 
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