Florida hosts Georgia Southern, Florida Gulf Coast and Virginia Commonwealth in the two-day tournament beginning Friday
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2022/9/6/6_7_8_Sunshine_Invitational.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 Florida volleyball team returns to Exactech Arena on Friday and Saturday for the Sunshine Invitational.
The Gators welcome Georgia Southern, Florida Gulf Coast and Virginia Commonwealth to Exactech Arena for the two-day invitational.
Florida is set to take on Georgia Southern on Friday at 10 a.m., followed by a matchup against Florida Gulf Coast at 7:30 p.m. that same night. The Gators then close out the Invitational against VCU on Saturday at 4 p.m.
All three matches will air on SEC Network + and both Friday matches can be heard on the airways of ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM. Saturday’s matchup can be heard on FloridaGators.com/watch.
Florida is coming off a four-set loss to then-No. 4 Minnesota and holds a combined 5-0 record against the field (3-0 vs. Georgia Southern, 2-0 vs. FGCU).
After the first session on Friday, the arena will be cleared of all fans prior to the 5 p.m. match featuring Georgia Southern and VCU. Doors will reopen at 4 p.m.
Fans that plan on attending the Florida vs. Kentucky football game can enter the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for free with a valid football ticket. Come enjoy the AC and cheer on the Gators!
Parking Information
* Friday Matches:
* Fans will be able to park at Flavet Field for all four matches on Friday, then make their way over to the O’Dome to see the Gators play
* Saturday Matches:
* Fans can park at Garage IX (South side of Gale Lemerand and Archer)
* There will be a free shuttle from 12-4 leaving the garage and dropping fans off at the O’Connell Center
* After 4 p.m., fans arriving will be charged
* Each person that parks in the garage will receive a voucher that they will use for the shuttle and fans should keep that voucher/ticket for the ride back post-match
Promotions
* Friday Morning Match:
* Field Trip Day! Students from across Alachua County will attend the Florida vs. Georgia Southern Match to cheer on the Gators
* Students will receive a shaker to use during the event
* Career-fair in the practice courts, along with pop-a-shot, spike ball, cornhole and more!
* Friday Evening Match:
* Alumni Night! Our alumni will be recognized during the match
* Giveaway: Team schedule posters and team magnets
* Post-match autographs return!
* Saturday Evening Match:
* Free entry to the match with a Kentucky Football ticket
* Giveaway: Stadium-compliant clear bags
* Giveaway: Team schedule posters and team magnets
* No post-match autographs following this match
Last Time Against FGCU
* The Gators defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the Second Round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament the last time these two squads faced off
* Florida won 3-0 to advance to the Regional Semifinal (25-17, 25-13, 25-17)
* Florida hit .356 as a squad, with Paige Hammons leading the offense on Friday night, posting 14 kills on the night. Holly Carlton followed with nine of her own and Rachael Kramer pitched in seven
* Allie Monserez dished a team-leading 20 assists and Marlie Monserez also added 16 assists on the evening
* Allie Gregory led the backcourt defense for Florida, posting 16 digs on the evening. Paige Hammons followed with eight of her own and Paula Cerame added seven
* As a squad, the Gators notched 7.0 blocks, led by a team-best five by both Holly Carlton and Taelor Kellum
Last Time Against Georgia Southern
* Florida swept Georgia Southern the last time these teams competed to open the 2014 season (25-19, 25-11, 25-15)
* Rhamat Alhassan recorded six kills, four blocks and a .750 clip in her Gator debut
* Noami Santos-Lamb chipped in seven kills with a .545 hitting efficiency • Florida held Georgia Southern to a -.128 hitting percentage and out-blocked the Eagles, 9.0-3.0
* Stepping in to the Gators’ starting setter position, junior Mackenzie Dagostino had 23 assists and eight digs, while freshman setter Abby Detering added three in her Florida debut
Familiar Face Across the Net
* The second tournament of Florida’s season will feature a familiar face on the opposing coaching staff that Gator Fans are certain to recognize
* Former volleyball manager Aaron Gordon serves as the VCU Rams Assistant Coach
* He earned the title of Assistant Coach in June of 2021 after serving as the graduate assistant for the Rams in the 2020-21 season
* During his first season, he helped VCU to a 13-5 record, as well as a berth in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Match
* Gordon’s time at Florida saw a 110-18 record, four NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the NCAA Championship match in 2017
No. 16 Florida vs. Georgia Southern Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Sept. 9 | 10 a.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=6eb3c3e1-05ad-4c01-9495-9a6cdf494c55> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417369> | Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 16 Florida vs. Georgia Southern
Eagles | 2022 season synopsis: 5-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
* This is the fourth meeting between the Gators and the Eagles
* Florida leads 3-0 (3-0 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 3-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 3-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-0
* Last Time Out: Aug. 24, 2014 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-15)
No. 16 Florida vs. FGCU Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Sept. 9 | 7:30 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=3992545> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417370> | Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 16 Florida vs. FGCU
Eagles | 2022 season synopsis: 4-2. 0-0 ASUN
* This is the third meeting between the Gators and the Eagles
* Florida leads 2-0 (2-0 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 3-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 1-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 1-0
* Last Time Out: Nov. 30, 2018 | Orlando, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-17)
No. 16 Florida vs. VCU Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Sept. 10 | 4 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=3992549> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417371> | Radio: FloridaGators.com/watch<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=4922&type=Archive>
Series Information – No. 16 Florida vs. VCU
Rams | 2022 season synopsis: 3-3, 0-0 A10
* First series meeting
TICKET INFO | Gator Ticket Office Online<http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_volleyball_.aspx> | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Season Ticket Prices:
* Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $75 [ages 13 & up]
* Kids Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $35 [ages 12 & under]
* General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $50 [ages 13 and up]
* Kids General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $25 [ages 12 & under]
* Courtside Season Pass (subject to availability) – $150 [all ages]
* Loge Seating (subject to availability) [in front of the Sideline Club] – $100 [all ages]
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