UF VB | Gators Close Out Nonconference With Sweep Over Coastal Carolina

Florida hit .370 on the afternoon to secure the series sweep

Box Score<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_9_19_UF-5FCC2.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=JGDCfDDmrHdKNdkuafUTwC8y6nK1C4uQYnun9C_oD1k&s=qk_vDG2gnOKQvKtaTygiVb4jCrvWXN-SlSFWoMkaOB4&e= >

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 14 Florida volleyball team closed out its nonconference schedule with a win over Coastal Carolina in straight-sets on Sunday afternoon in Exactech Arena.

The Gators picked up where they left off in Saturday’s match, taking the first set 25-15. Florida then followed with a 25-19 victory in the second, before closing out the match with a 25-21 win in the third.

Florida’s offense was led by Sofia Victoria, who posted a 14-kill performance on the afternoon. T’ara Ceasar pitched in 13 kills of her own on a .423 clip, while Marlie Monserez and Thayer Hall added six and five kills, respectively.

Monserez led the Gators to a .370 clip in the match, dishing out 38 assists in the three-setter. With that performance, she surpassed Kris Bova (2,843 | 1998-2001) for eighth place in program history in career assists (2,875).

The Gators notched six blocks at the net, holding the Chanticleers to a .196 clip on the afternoon. Lauren Dooley led the way with a five-block effort, while Monserez added three.

Florida’s backcourt effort was led by 11 digs from Ceasar, while both Victoria and Elli McKissock added nine apiece.

Trinity Adams posted a career-high four service aces for the Gators, followed by three from Ceasar and one from Victoria.

The Gators begin conference play on Thursday, taking on Mississippi State in the first of a two-match series. Both Thursday and Friday’s matches are slated for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network +.

Records
No. 14 Florida (6-4)
Coastal Carolina (6-4)

How it Happened

* With the first set tied 4-4, the Gators sprung out to a seven-point lead thanks in part to the play of Adams behind the service line. Florida kept it rolling, forcing Coastal Carolina to use its second and final timeout of the frame at the 12-5 mark. The Gators controlled the momentum the rest of the way, pulling ahead as many as 11 points before winning the frame 25-15.
* Florida hit a stellar .545 in the first set, while holding Coastal Carolina to just a .125 clip. Monserez posted a team-high four kills, while Hall added three of her own.
* The Gators once again pulled ahead early in the second set, this time taking the 9-2 lead behind the serves of Ceasar and Adams to force a Chanticleers timeout. Out of the break, Coastal pulled to within five at 10-5, but Florida strung together a 4-0 run of its own to cause a timeout by the Chanticleers. The Gators got up 10 points at the 18-8 mark, but Coastal Carolina closed the gap to just five at 24-19. The Gators were able to close out frame to go up 2-0 in the match.
* The Gators hit .353 in the second set and kept the Chanticleers to a .091 clip. Victoria posted a team-high seven kills in the frame, followed by six kills from Ceasar.
* The third set was tight through the start until the Gators were able to pull ahead five going into the media timeout. Out of the break, Florida continued to roll, taking a nine-point lead at 20-11 to force Coastal Carolina to use its first timeout of the frame. The Chanticleers hung around, chipping away at Florida’s lead until it was just three at 24-21, but a kill from Ceasar secured the match victory.
* Florida recorded 18 kills in the final frame, led by six from Victoria. Ceasar added five in the set, while Gabrielle Essix posted three.
Notables

* Trinity Adams recorded a career-high four service aces in the match
* T’ara Ceasar registered her eighth-straight match with double-digit kills
* Ceasar also posted her fourth double-double of the year, finishing with 13 kills and 11 digs
* Sofia Victoria posted her third-straight match in double-digit kills
* The Gators improve to 2-0 against the Chanticleers
* Florida is now 2-0 in three-set matches against Coastal Carolina
* The Gators improve to 5-1 in three-set matches during the 2021 campaign
* Marlie Monserez moved into eighth place in the Florida record book in career assists (2,875), surpassing Kris Bova (2,843 | 1998-01)
Thoughts from Coach Wise

* “Behind the backrow play of Trinity Adams, combined with the arms of T’ara Ceasar and Sofia Victoria, we were able to put together enough good plays to beat a very veteran, experience Coastal team.”
Up Next

* The Gators kick off the conference portion of their schedule with a two-match series with Mississippi State beginning on Sept. 23
* Both matches will air at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network + and can be heard on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM
* Florida holds the 52-0 record over the Bulldogs
No. 14 Florida vs. Mississippi State Broadcast Information – Sept. 23
Date & Time: Sept. 23 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SECN +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D11b1052a-2D47dc-2D4c65-2Da689-2D7c6bfdaab47a&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=JGDCfDDmrHdKNdkuafUTwC8y6nK1C4uQYnun9C_oD1k&s=h8wtVC38B_wq7Xu-ocrG_cZDxt8fQsuDm2rsmwkEPtc&e= >
Live Stats: Statbroadcast<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D360594&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=JGDCfDDmrHdKNdkuafUTwC8y6nK1C4uQYnun9C_oD1k&s=ajvoX8ObHrMfzZ9z2NXagAk-xShtZOPeUoE8AEetwlk&e= >
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>

No. 14 Florida vs. Mississippi State Broadcast Information – Sept. 24
Date & Time: Sept. 24 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SECN +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D33be2c3b-2D96d3-2D4fff-2D8401-2Db3a66b1275f0&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=JGDCfDDmrHdKNdkuafUTwC8y6nK1C4uQYnun9C_oD1k&s=GjPkYeTvdhZwrycZgI9UA1p76A-6K30jLlQHuoJIEqM&e= >
Live Stats: Statbroadcast<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D360595&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=JGDCfDDmrHdKNdkuafUTwC8y6nK1C4uQYnun9C_oD1k&s=-0rKYclfYNYh-vPFXODGQX_tmzjbeR8KCliZPVV69pA&e= >
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>

Series Information – No. 14 Florida vs. Mississippi State
Bulldogs | 2021 season synopsis: 8-3

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