Kennedy Martin Guides the Gators to a 3-1 Comeback Win over Arkansas

Wednesday, October 30

Fayetteville, AR

8 PM

Florida Gators

University of Arkansas

The Gators grab their second-straight comeback win.

Kennedy Martin Guides the Gators to a 3-1 Comeback Win over Arkansas

Thursday, October 31, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF

By: Abby Wisecup

FAYETTEVILLE, AR. – After dropping the opening set, the No. 24 Florida volleyball team fought back to earn their second-straight comeback win on Wednesday night, defeating Arkansas 3-1 (11-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23) inside Barnhill Arena. The Gators tally their fourth-straight conference win to move to 6-3 in the league, while improving to 15-5 overall.

Sophomore All-American Kennedy Martin recorded her first double-double of the season after posting 31 kills for the second-straight match, while picking up 10 digs en route to tying her own individual single-game-kill school record during the 25-point scoring era that she recorded in Florida's 3-1 win against Tennessee last Friday, Oct. 25. Her career-high marks the most kills in a four-set match, as former Gator Aury Cruz, the four-time AVCA All-American and three-time SEC Player of the Year, recorded 31 kills against Nebraska on December 8, 2001 in Florida's Final Four match, which went into five sets. Cruz's recorded 31 kills twice in her career when rally scoring went to 30 points.

Martin also led the way offensively to score a career-high 33.5 points, while freshman Jaela Auguste recorded her third double-digit-kill match of her career after finishing with 11. Additionally, four Gators also tallied a kill to Florida's 62: Isabel Martin (8), AC Fitzpatrick (7), Amaya Thomas (4) and Taylor Parks (1).

Freshman Taylor Parks dished out 49 assists in her three sets of play to reset her career best of 40 that was also set in last week's match against the Lady Vols. Redshirt sophomore Alexis Stucky recorded six in the opening set, while Elli McKissock (4) and Emily Canaan (1) had the remaining five of Florida's 60 total assists.

Florida out blocked the Razorbacks 7.5-5.0, as seven Gators recorded at least one block assist. Isi Martin tied her career-high to finish with her fellow teammate, Auguste with 4.0. Thomas finished close with 3.0 and freshman Lauren Harden matched her career-high of one to go along with Fitzpatrick's, K. Martin's and Parks' 1.0.

The Gators had three players finish with double-digit kills, as fifth-year libero Elli McKissock led the backcourt with 20 digs. The Martin duo both recorded season-high, with Isi Martin having 19 and Kennedy tallying 10. Canaan followed close with eight of her own, while Fitzpatrick (6), Parks (4), Stucky (3) and Hoyle (1) contributed to the stat sheet as well.

Behind the service line, K. Martin led the way with two and Isi Martin registered the remaining Gator ace.

crushing records 🤯#GoGators | @NCAAVolleyball pic.twitter.com/sOGzvBjrLc
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 31, 2024

Records
No. 24 Florida (15-5, 6-3 SEC)
RV Arkansas (14-7, 4-5 SEC)

How It Happened
Set 1

After a slow 2-5 start, Auguste ended a long rally to show some fight and help the Gators inch within one. The Razorbacks pulled ahead to a 13-8 lead and forced Florida to use their first timeout. Out of the huddle, Auguste put another down, but nothing was falling Florida's way in the first set, as Arkansas went on a 6-0 closing run to take a 25-11 win.
Set 1 Team Stats | -.034 Hitting % |16 Digs | 6 Kills | 6 Assists | 1.0 Team Block | 0 Aces

S1 | AUGUSTE AGAIN 😤

Gators 6 | Razorbacks 7#GoGators | @NCAAVolleyball

📺 https://t.co/3BUjci9Lth (SECN) pic.twitter.com/wTBqzS8xoF
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 31, 2024

Set 2

The Gators came out more alive in the second set to grab a 7-6 lead after back-to-back points from Isi Martin. The Razorbacks responded with a 3-0 scoring run of their own to gain an 8-6 advantage, but three more kills from the redshirt senior evened the score at 10. Action from Thomas in the middle and an ace from K. Martin gave the Gators a 15-12 lead heading into the media timeout. Out of the break, the National Player of the Week served seven-consecutive behind the service line, while dropping three backrow attacks to extend Florida's lead to 21-13. Arkansas kept a fight and inched back within five, but K. Martin added another kill to the stats sheet to secure a 25-19 second-set win.
Set 2 Team Stats | .357 Hitting % | 24 Digs | 18 Kills | 17 Assists | 1.0 Team Block | 1 Ace

S2 | she's so good 🥹

Isabel Martin leading the Gators with 5️⃣ kills

Gators 9 | Razorbacks 9#GoGators | @NCAAVolleyball

📺 https://t.co/3BUjci9dDJ (SECN) pic.twitter.com/OC5FRVo2qq
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 31, 2024

Set 3

All-around effort helped Florida start the third set with a 8-4 lead before the Razorbacks tied it up at 10. A block from Thomas and Isi Martin brought Isi to the service line, where she dropped an ace to take a two-point lead. Back-to-back kills from K. Martin and another from Auguste brought it to the media timeout with Florida ahead 15-13. Back-to-back errors forced the Gators to use a timeout after falling to a 16-17 deficit. Out of the huddle, points were exchanged, as points from Auguste and K. Martin brought Florida to a 19-18 advantage before Arkansas used a timeout of their own. The sophomore continued to charge, tallying the next five points to make it set-point for Florida, where Parks dumped one over to take a 25-21 win.
Set 3 Team Stats | .390 Hitting % | 20 Kills | 20 Assists | 19 Digs | 2.5 Team Blocks | 1 Ace

S3 | TAKING CONTROL 🔥🔥

Gators 21 | Razorbacks 18#GoGators | @NCAAVolleyball

📺 https://t.co/3BUjci9dDJ (SECN) pic.twitter.com/sWONEqjvH2
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 31, 2024

Set 4

Points were exchanged until back-to-back kills from K. Martin pushed Florida to a 10-7 lead. Arkansas got on a groove to go on 5-0 scoring run for a 12-10 lead and force a Florida timeout. Out of the huddle, points from the Martin duo tied it up at 14 and a tip from Fitzpatrick put the Gators up by one. The Razorbacks responded, but points from K. Martin forced the home team to use a timeout. Out of the break, Arkansas climbed back to take a 23-22 lead as the Gators used their second timeout. Down 22-23, Florida scored back-to-back points to make it match point. The Razorbacks called a timeout in hopes to ice their opponent, but an attacking error gave the Gators a 25-23 win and a 3-1 comeback win.
Set 4 Team Stats |.206 Hitting % | 18 Kills |17 Assists | 12 Digs | 3.0 Team Blocks | 1 Ace

S4 | UNSTOPPABLE 🥵

Gators 16 | Razorbacks 16#GoGators | @NCAAVolleyball

📺 https://t.co/3BUjci9dDJ (SECN) pic.twitter.com/HpBbdPYEIK
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 31, 2024

Notables

Two players either set or tied a career high:
- Lauren Harden: 1 Block (tied)
- Kennedy Martin: 33.5 Points | 31 Kills (Tied)
Kennedy Martin recorded her first double-double of the season, eighth of her career, after registering 31 kills and 10 digs.
Three Players finished with double-digit digs: Elli McKissock (20), Isabel Martin (19) and Kennedy Martin (10)
Two Gators finished with double-digit kills: Kennedy Martin (31) and Jaela Auguste (11)
The Gators improve to 51-5 (51-5 under Coach Wise) in the all-time series record against Arkansas
Florida remains a perfect 15-0 in four-set matches against the Razorbacks
UF sits 21-3 when playing Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR.
Florida moves to 6-1 on the season in four-set matches
UF evens to 1-1 in Wednesday matches
The Gators round out October with a 5-2 record
Kennedy Martin's 31 Kills continues her streak of recording double-digit kills in every match she has played wearing the Orange and Blue

Up Next

The Gators return home to host Ole Miss on Sunday, Nov. 3 inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET with 250 autograph books being handed out for Sunday's post-match mingle. There will also be 250 goodie bags available for ages 12 and under.
Florida fans not in attendance can watch Sunday's match on SEC Network+ or listen on 98.1FM/850AM. Additionally, follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates as well as via live stats, which can be found on volleyball's schedule page on FloridaGators.com.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets for the remaining matches. To purchase, click here. For more information on volleyball tickets, call the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.

No. 24 Florida (15-5, 6-3 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (13-7, 3-5 SEC)
Sunday, November 3 | 1 p.m. ET
Exactech Arena – Gainesville, Fla.
SECN+ | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets

Series Information

Series Record 59-3 (53-0 under Wise)
3-set: 49-0; 4-set: 5-1; 5-set: 5-2
Home: 26-0; Away: 30-3; Neutral: 3-0
Last time out | W, 3-0 | A | 26-24, 25-23, 25-19