Markova and Beason finished in double-digit kills for Florida
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2022/10/29/132643.PDF>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 14th-ranked Florida volleyball team swept the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon in Exactech Arena.
The Gators improve to 17-4 on the year and 9-2 in league play, while the Razorbacks drop to 14-6 overall and 5-5 in the SEC.
Florida opened the day with a 25-20 victory in the first set and followed that with an identical score in the second frame. The Gators closed out the match with a 25-21 victory in the final frame to secure the win.
Offensively, UF was paced by Marina Markova, who posted a team-high 11 kills in the three-setter. Merritt Beason followed closely behind with 10 kills, while Alexis Stucky added five in the win. Sofia Victoria (4) and Nnedi Okammor (4) combined for eight kills.
Alexis Stucky dished out 27 assists in the match, while also adding four digs and a block.
The Gators held the Razorbacks to just a .036 clip on the afternoon, the lowest total since Oct. 14 against Mississippi State. The squad tallied nine blocks in the match, led by four apiece from Bre Kelley and Markova. Gabrielle Essix added three blocks in the match, followed by two from Beason.
Elli McKissock led the backcourt defense with 14 kills, while Beason added 10 for her second double-double of the year. Emily Canaan added six digs on the afternoon, followed by four apiece from Victoria and Stucky.
The Gators totaled four service aces in the three-setter, led by two from Stucky. Trinity Adams and Beason each tallied one ace in the victory.
Florida returns back to the court on Sunday to close out the series with Arkansas. First serve is slated for 12 p.m. on the SEC Network with Sam Gore and Missy Whittemore on the call. The match can also be heard on the airways of ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM
Records
No. 14 Florida (17-4, 9-2 SEC)
(RV) Arkansas (14-6, 5-5 SEC)
How It Happened
* Florida took the early 5-1 lead to open the match and continued to hold at least the one-point lead over the Razorbacks through the 11-10 mark. At that point, the Gators opened up a 5-0 run to pull ahead 16-10 and they continued to roll, forcing an Arkansas timeout after going ahead 18-12. Florida took as large as a 10-point lead at the 23-13 mark, but the Razorbacks cut the deficit to just five to force a timeout by the Gators. Out of the break, Arkansas pulled within three, but Florida held on for the 25-20 victory to start the day.
* Florida held Arkansas to a -.081 clip in the first set, with both Beason and Victoria tallying three kills.
* With the Razorbacks leading the second set 5-3, the Gators went on a 5-0 run to swing the momentum back in Florida’s direction. Arkansas pulled back within one at 8-7, but UF continued to keep the Razorbacks at bay, grabbing the six-point advantage at 22-16 to force an Arkansas timeout. Following the break in action, the Razorbacks cut Florida’s lead to just three at 22-19, but Florida secured the 25-20 win after a 3-1 run.
* Markova led the way with six kills in the second frame, followed by three apiece from Beason and Stucky.
* Florida grabbed the early advantage in the third frame, pulling ahead 12-7 to cause Arkansas to use its first timeout of the set. Out of the break, the Gators continued to extend their lead, taking the seven-point advantage at 17-10. The Razorbacks cut their deficit to just two at the 22-20 mark after a 3-0 run, forcing a timeout from Florida. Similar to the ending of the second set, the Gators used a 3-1 run to clinch the match.
* UF hit .382 in the final frame, led by four kills apiece from Beason and Markova.
Notables
* With her 11 kills, Marina Markova has now recorded double-digit kills in 15 matches this season
* Merritt Beason tallied her second double-double of the season, finishing with 10 kills and 10 digs
* The Gators improve to 49-3 in the all-time series against the Razorbacks
* Florida is now 29-1 in three-set matches against Arkansas
* UF remains unbeaten at home against the Razorbacks, moving to 23-0
* The Gators are now 10-1 in three-set matches during the 2022 campaign
Thoughts from Coach Wise
* “Kills didn’t come easy, but they never do against Arkansas. We’re fortunate to come away with the win, but it is 0-0 on Sunday.”
Up Next
* Florida returns back to the court on Sunday to close out the series with Arkansas
* First serve is slated for 12 p.m. on the SEC Network with Sam Gore and Missy Whittemore on the call
* The match can also be heard on the airways of ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM
No. 14 Florida vs. (RV) Arkansas Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Oct. 30 | 12 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=80f868c1-6d5b-4a4f-88c7-ca09489859cb>
Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417378>
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 14 Florida vs. (RV) Arkansas
Razorbacks | 2022 season synopsis: 14-6, 5-5 SEC
* This is the 53rd meeting between the Gators and the Razorbacks
* Florida leads 49-3 (49-3 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 29-1 | 4-set: 14-0 | 5-set: 6-2
* Home: 23-0 | Away: 20-2 | Neutral: 6-1
* Last Time Out: Oct. 29, 2022 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-20, 25-20-25-21)
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