Gators Head to Tuscaloosa to Face Crimson Tide

Wednesday, October 20

Tuscaloosa, AL

8 PM

Florida Gators

Alabama

Gators Head to Tuscaloosa to Face Crimson Tide

Tuesday, October 19, 2021 | Volleyball

Florida and Alabama are facing off for the 50th time in program history

By: Katie Callahan

Match Notes

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 23 Florida volleyball team (12-6, 6-2 SEC) heads to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (9-9, 1-5 SEC) on Wednesday night in Foster Auditorium.

First serve is slated for 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU with Courtney Lyle and Missy Whittemore on the call. The match can also be heard on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM.

Florida is coming off a sweep of Texas A&M on Saturday, while Alabama has not played since Oct. 13, when they topped Missouri in five sets.

The Gators hold the 49-0 series advantage over the Crimson Tide, including a 47-0 record under Mary Wise.

SEC Setter of the Week

Monserez earned her fourth SEC Setter of the Week award on Oct. 18
The senior setter dished out 34 assists against the Aggies, averaging 11.33 assists per set in the win
Monserez led the Gators to a .438 clip, the third-highest hitting percentage of the season
The Windermere, Fla. native also recorded four digs, three kills and two blocks against Texas A&M

Gators in the SEC

Through the season thus far, Florida has at least one player ranked in the following categories
- Hitting percentage: Lauren Forte (2nd, .468)
- Kills per set: T'ara Ceasar (7th, 3.70)
- Assists per set: Marlie Monserez (3rd, 11.09)
- Service aces per set: T'ara Ceasar (4th, 0.39) | Elli McKissock (8th, 0.33)
- Blocks per set: Lauren Dooley (8th, 1.18)
- Digs per set: Elli McKissock (5th, 4.19)
- Points per set: T'ara Ceasar (5th, 4.37)
Through the season thus far, Florida is ranked in the Top-10 in the conference in the following categories:
- Hitting percentage: 1st (.289)
- Opponent hitting percentage: 6th (.187)
- Assists per set: 2nd (13.00)
- Kills per set: 4th (13.98)
- Blocks per set: 4th (2.55)
- Service aces per set: 2nd (1.52)
- Digs per set: 7th (14.45)

Last Time Against Alabama

The Gators swept Alabama the last time the two squads faced off on Oct. 31, 2020 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22)
UF's blocking game was the deciding factor in the victory, with the team recording 19.5 blocks on the afternoon. That number is the highest total in a three-set match in program history and is the ninth best total overall in the rally-scoring era
Lauren Dooley led the way with 10.0 blocks, just two shy of her career-best. That mark is the fifth-best total in a three-set match in the rally-scoring era. Marlie Monserez and Nnedi Okammor each posted a career-high nine blocks in the match as well
UF stifled Alabama's offensive game overall, holding the Crimson Tide to a .095 clip on the night
T'ara Ceasar led the team offensively, posting 15 kills and a .344 clip on the afternoon. Thayer Hall also recorded double-digit kills, finishing with 11
Marlie Monserez captained the Florida offense on Saturday afternoon, dishing out 28 assists
Former Gator Paula Cerame led the defense in the backcourt, posting a season-high 12 digs. Elli McKissock and Monserez each pitched in eight digs on the afternoon, while Ceasar added seven

No. 23 Florida at Alabama Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Oct. 20 | 8 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ESPNU
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM

Series Information – No. 23 Florida at Alabama
Crimson Tide | 2021 season synopsis: 9-9, 1-5 SEC

This is the 50th meeting between the Gators and the Crimson Tide
Florida leads the series 49-0 (47-0 under Mary Wise)
3-set: 45-0 | 4-set: 4-0 | 5-set: 0-0
Home: 25-0 | Away: 21-0 | Neutral: 3-0
Last Time Out: Oct. 31, 2021 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22)