Gators Drop Series Finale to Baylor

Saturday, September 11

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

4-3, 0-0SEC

Baylor

3-3, 0-0Big 12

Baylor

Florida

Gators Drop Series Finale to Baylor

Saturday, September 11, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

T’ara Ceasar recorded her second double-double on the year

By: Katie Callahan

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The seventh-ranked Florida volleyball (4-3) team dropped the series finale to the 17th-ranked Baylor Bears (3-3) on Saturday night in Exactech Arena.

Baylor took the first set 25-19, then followed with a 25-18 victory in the second. The Bears were able to close the match out in the third set, winning 25-16.

T'ara Ceasar led the way offensively for Florida, recording 19 kills on the night – tying her season-best mark. Thayer Hall pitched in eight kills of her own, while Marlie Monserez dished out 34 assists in the three-setter.

Florida recorded five blocks in the match, led by a four-block performance from Lauren Dooley.

Elli McKissock and Ceasar paced the backcourt defense, with each recording 10 digs on the night. Ceasar's 10 digs secured her second double-double of the year. Monserez and Hall pitched in five digs apiece as well.

The Gators are back in action on Wednesday when the team travels to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on the Florida State Seminoles. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra.

Records
No. 7 Florida (4-3)
No. 17 Baylor (3-3)

How It Happened

Baylor jumped out to the 5-0 lead to start the match, but the Gators were able to chip away, pulling within one at 7-6. The Bears extended their lead, going on a 6-3 run to take the 13-9 advantage, but the Gators cut it to two going into the media timeout behind the serves of Trinity Adams. Out of the break, the Bears took the 22-16 lead, but Florida answered with a 3-0 run to cut the lead to three at 22-19. Baylor closed out the set on a 3-0 run of its own to take the first frame.
- The Gators were led by Ceasar in the first set, who posted a team-high seven kills and a team-high five digs in the frame.
The second set began with the two squads trading points, but with the frame tied 15-15, the Bears went on a 3-0 run to take the 18-15 lead late. The Gators cut their deficit to just one at 18-17, but Baylor strung together a 7-0 run to secure the win and go up 2-0 in the match.
- Ceasar posted eight kills in the frame, while McKissock added five digs.
Baylor got out to the early lead in the third set, taking a six-point advantage at 9-3. Florida fought back to get within three at 14-11, but the Bears continued to create distance, ending the set and the match with an 11-5 run.
- Ceasar recorded four kills in the final set, while Hall and Dooley each added two apiece.

Notables

T'ara Ceasar recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs
Trinity Adams registered the first digs of her Gator career, recording two on the night
Florida moves to 2-2 in the all-time series against Baylor

Up Next

The Gators head to in-state rival Florida State for a midweek matchup on Wednesday
First serve is slated for 6 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra
Florida holds the 43-20 series lead over the Seminoles

No. 7 Florida vs. Florida State Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Sept. 15 | 6 p.m.
Live Stream: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

Series Information – No. 7 Florida vs. Florida State
Seminoles | 2021 season synopsis: 6-2

This is the 64th meeting between the Gators and the Seminoles
Florida leads 43-20 (36-6 under Mary Wise)
3-set: 24-7 | 4-set: 13-5 | 5-set: 6-8
Home: 25-6 | Away: 15-10 | Neutral: 3-4
Last Time Out: Sept. 17, 2019 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-14)