Gators Drop Contest with Eighth-Ranked Minnesota

Saturday, September 7

Minneapolis, MN

8 PM

Florida Gators

2-2

#8 Minnesota

2-2

Florida

Minnesota

Gators Drop Contest with Eighth-Ranked Minnesota

Saturday, September 7, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

Florida fell in three sets at Maturi Pavilion

By: Katie Callahan

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The seventh-ranked Florida volleyball team fell to No. 8 Minnesota in front of a full house at Maturi Pavilion on Saturday night.

The Gators dropped the first set of the evening, 25-20, then fell 25-17 in the second frame. Florida put up a tough fight in the third, before falling 25-22.

Thayer Hall led the offense for Florida, registering 11 kills on the evening. Holly Carlton and Paige Hammons both recorded nine kills as well on the night.

Marlie Monserez dished out 30 assists during the match, while Allie Gregory tied her career-high in digs, registering 22 during the three-set match.

As a team, the Gators recorded 8.5 blocks, led by four from Rachael Kramer. Thayer Hall, Holly Carlton and Darrielle King each added three apiece as well.

The Gators are back in action on Friday as they host the Honda of Gainesville Gators Invitational. Florida welcomes James Madison, Long Beach State and USF to Exactech Arena.

Records
No. 7 Florida (2-2)
No. 8 Minnesota (2-2)

How it Happened

Florida and Minnesota traded points to start the match before Minnesota went on a 9-4 run to take the 15-10 lead. The Gators chipped away at the Minnesota lead, but could not get closer than two points the rest of the way.
- The Gators only hit .156 in the first frame, but notched 15 kills. Thayer Hall led the way with five, while Holly Carlton notched four and Rachael Kramer added three.
Florida kept the second set close through the first third, staying with a point at 10-9. The Golden Gophers then utilized an 8-2 run, taking the 18-11 lead over the Gators. The squad then went on a 3-0 run of their own to pull to within four at 18-14, but Minnesota closed out the frame on a 7-3 run to going up two sets to none.
- UF couldn't find its rhythm in the second set, only hitting .043 as a squad. Darrielle King and Paige Hammons led the way in the second frame, collecting three kills apiece.
The Gators took the early 7-3 lead in the third frame, thanks in part to two blocks by Darrielle King and two kills from Holly Carlton. Minnesota continued to claw away at the lead, going on a 9-2 run to take the 19-14 lead late. Florida kept battling, pulling to within two points at both 23-21 and 22-24, but could stitch together a run to surge past the Golden Gophers, who took the set 25-22.
- Holly Carlton, Thayer Hall and Paige Hammons all pitched in four kills apiece during the third set.

Notables

Thayer Hall finished in double-digit kills with 11, while two other Gators had nine kills (Paige Hammons, Holly Carlton)
With her four blocks on the night, Rachael Kramer moved closer to 10th place all-time. She currently is two blocks away from tying Angie McGinnis with 388
The Gators are now 1-4 all-time against Minnesota
UF moves to 1-1 in three-set matches against the Golden Gophers

Up Next

The Gators head back to Exactech Arena for the Honda of Gainesville Gators Invitational, featuring James Madison, Long Beach State and USF
Florida faces South Florida at Noon on Friday, Sept. 13, then turns around and takes on James Madison at 7 p.m.
UF closes out the tournament with a matchup against Long Beach State at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14