Gators hit .354 in the victory; extend win streak to three matches
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 23rd-ranked Florida volleyball team swept the Missouri Tigers on Saturday night in the Hearnes Center to extend its win streak to three matches.
Florida improves to 14-6 on the year and 8-2 in conference play, while Missouri dropped to 4-20 overall and 1-10 in the SEC.
The Gators took the first set handily, winning 25-10 and then followed with a comeback 25-23 victory in the second set. UF then clinched the match with a 25-22 win in the final set.
Florida’s offensive attack was led by two 13-kill performances from T’ara Ceasar and Thayer Hall. Lauren Forte followed with seven kills of her own, while Marlie Monserez added six in the victory.
Four Gators hit over .300 in the match: Monserez (.750 | 6-0-8), Ceasar (.440 | 13-2-25), Forte (.357 | 7-2-14) and Hall (.333 | 13-4-27).
Monserez dished out 32 assists in the match, leading the team to a .354 clip.
As a team, Florida recorded 10.0 blocks and limited the Tigers to a .135 hitting percentage on the night. Bre Kelley tied her career-high with six blocks, while Beason and Forte recorded five and four blocks, respectively.
Elli McKissock led the backcourt defense for the Gators with 16 digs on the night, followed by 11 from Hall. Beason and Monserez each recorded six digs in the win.
Florida recorded four service aces, led by two from Monserez.
The Gators return to Exactech Arena to take on the No. 21 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Nov. 4. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network +.
Records
No. 23 Florida (14-6, 8-2 SEC)
Missouri (4-20, 1-10 SEC)
How It Happened
* Florida jumped out to the 8-1 lead with McKissock behind the service line in the first set, forcing Missouri to utilize its first timeout of the match. Out of the break, the Tigers pulled to within five at 9-4, but from that point on it was all Gators. Monserez led Florida on a 9-0 service run to give UF the 22-7 advantage late in the frame and the Gators were able to cruise to a 25-10 victory to go up 1-0 in the match.
* Florida hit .414 in the first set while holding Missouri to a -.154 clip. Ceasar and Forte led the way with four kills apiece, while Hall pitched in three in the set.
* The second set was an absolute battle between the two squads, with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage until the Tigers pulled ahead 23-20 in the final points, forcing Florida to use its second and final timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Florida went on 5-0 run to come from behind and win the second set 25-23.
* Florida hit .312 in the second set with Ceasar and Hall each leading the way with five kills apiece. Monserez added three of her own, while Forte and Kelley each posted two in the victory.
* Missouri jumped out to the early 7-2 lead in the third frame, causing Florida to call its first timeout of the set. The Gators pulled back to within two at 8-6 after a 3-0 service run from Birdie Hendrickson and continued to climb, taking the 10-9 lead to force a Mizzou timeout. After the break, Florida extended its lead to 14-11, before the Tigers answered with a 5-0 run. The teams then continued to trade points, but with the set tied 20-20, Florida closed out the match with a 5-2 run to move to 8-2 in the SEC.
* The Gators hit .342 in the final frame, led by five kills and Hall and four from Ceasar.
Notables
* Bre Kelley tied her career-high in blocks with six
* Thayer Hall recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 13 kills and 11 digs
* The Gators improve to 11-5 against the Tigers in the all-time series
* Florida moves to 6-1 in three-set matches against Missouri
* The Gators are now 4-3 against the Tigers in Columbia, Mo.
* UF is now 11-1 in three-set matches during the 2021 campaign
* The Gators finish the month of Oct. with a 6-1 record
* Florida moves to 7-1 on Saturdays during the 2021 campaign
* With her 32 assists, Marlie Monserez is now just 28 assists from claiming the No. 6 spot in program history for career assists
Thoughts from Coach Wise
* “In the typical SEC fashion – where we go on the road and the home team plays a very inspired, clean brand of volleyball – we had to really grind this one out.”
Up Next
* The Gators return home for the first time since Oct. 16 to take on the No. 21 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Nov. 4
* First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network +
No. 23 Florida vs. No. 21 Tennessee Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Nov. 4 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network +
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Series Information – No. 23 Florida vs. No. 21 Tennessee
Lady Vols | 2021 season synopsis: 16-5, 8-3 SEC
* This is the 67th meeting between the Gators and the Lady Vols
* Florida leads the series 53-13 (49-8 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 41-2 | 4-set: 10-4 | 5-set: 2-7
* Home: 27-7 | Away: 25-5 | Neutral: 1-1
* Last Time Out: Feb. 26, 2021 | Knoxville, Tenn. | W, 3-0 (25-23, 29-27, 25-16)
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