After a year-long recovery, setter Alexis Stucky checked into the third set of Florida’s 3-0 win against North Texas.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 Florida volleyball team swept North Texas 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-18) on Friday night inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Gators improve to 8-2 on the season and 4-1 in three-set matches.
Gator fans rose to their feet at the start of the third set when Alexis Stucky checked in to the match. The redshirt sophomore made her return for the Orange and Blue after suffering a year-long ACL injury. The 2022 AVCA Southeast Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year went down against then No. 1 Wisconsin on Sept. 17, 2023 and would not return for the rest of the 2023 season.
Stucky’s 14 assists combined with freshman Taylor Parks’ 22 guided Florida to a .352 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kennedy Martin led the Gators attack with 14 kills, while seven other Gators pitched in at least one: Isabel Martin (8), AC Fitzpatrick (7), Alec Rothe (6), Jaela Auguste (3), Lauren Harden (2), Amaya Thomas (2) and Stucky (1).
Florida held North Texas to 0.72 hitting percentage in the three setter, with Rothe having a team-high four block assists. In total the Gators totaled 6.0 team blocks.
Nine Gators added a dig to the stat sheet, with Elli McKissock and Isi Martin leading the backcourt with seven. K. Martin finished with six and Emily Canaan recorded four of her own. Fitzpatrick (3), Parks (3), Auguste (1), Stucky (1), and Rothe (1) totaled nine of Florida’s 33 digs.
The Martin duo both finished with two aces, while Emerson Hoyle and McKissock finished with one a piece.
Records
No. 16 Florida (8-2, 0-0 SEC)
North Texas (2-8, 0-0 AAC)
How It Happened
Set 1
* Florida fell to an early 2-7 deficit, but a kill from Auguste ended the Mean Green’s rally to bring K. Martin to the service line. The All-American dropped two aces and brought momentum back to the Gators side. Florida tied it up at 10, but the Mean Green inched back up to a 15-13 lead as the two teams went into the media break. Out of the huddle, North Texas continued to push and went into the final points ahead by three, 20-17. A side out followed by hard hits from Rothe and Fitzpatrick tied it back up at 20 and forced an opponent timeout. Following the break, kills from Kennedy and Fitzpatrick finally gave the Gators a 23-21 lead and an ace from McKissock made it set point Florida. Auguste finished the opening set with her third kill to close out set one with a 25-22 win.
* Set 1 Team Stats | .286 Hitting % | 16 Kills | 16 Assists | 14 Digs | 3 Aces | 1.0 Team Blocks
Set 2
* The Gators settled back into rhythm in set two, quickly grabbing an early 0-5 lead behind Parks serving. Two aces from Isi Martin and one from McKissock helped extend the lead to 11-1, which was matched with two kills from the Martin duo for a 15-6 advantage. Following a North Texas timeout, Hoyle served an ace to continue the momentum and the Gators gained a 10-point lead heading into the final five points of the set. Blocking from Rothe helped Florida secure a 25-13 victory.
* Set 2 Team Stats |.429 Hitting % |10 Kills | 9 Assists | 7 Digs | 3 aces | 3.0 Team Blocks
Set 3
* Behind Isi Martin’s serve, Florida went on a 7-0 scoring run at the start of the third to take an 8-2 lead. The Gators continued to push the points with the help from their All-American setter and extended their lead to 20-12. With match point for Florida, North Texas attempted to make a comeback and cut it to 24-18, but a Stucky set to Rothe ended the Mean Green’s rally for a 25-18 third-set victory.
* Set 3 Team Stats | .393 Hitting % | 16 Kills | 14 Assists |12 Digs | 2.0 Team Blocks | 0 Aces
Notables
* Setter Alexis Stucky made her 2024 season debut, finishing with 14 assists, one kill and one dig in the three setter
* Kennedy Martin was the only Gator to finish with double-digit kills, continuing her streak of recording 10 or more in every match she has played in.
* The Gators are now 1-0 (1-0 Under Coach Wise) against the Mean Green in the all-time series record
* Florida is now 1-0 against North Texas in three-set matches
* UF moves to 1-0 against the Mean Green when playing in Gainesville, Fla.
* Florida climbs to a 4-2 record when playing at home
* The Gators improve to 4-1 in three-set matches during the 2024 season
Thoughts from Coach Wise
* “After a slow start, it was the serve and blocking that really changed the course of the match. Hard for any fan here to not walk away and only remember Alexis Stucky making it back to the court.”
Up Next
* The Gators host Buffalo in their final nonconference match on Sunday, Sept. 22. First serve is set for 3 p.m. inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Fans who are unable to attend can watch on the SEC Network with Sam Gore and Madison Fitzpatrick, or listen to Sky Lebron and Darielle King on ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF radio. Additionally, those not in attendance can follow via live stats or follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates.
No. 16 Florida vs. Buffalo
Date & Time: Sept. 22 | 3 p.m.
Exactech Arena – Gainesville, Fla. | Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/VkIyNDA2>
Series Information
Bulls | 2024 season: 4-7, 0-0 MAC
* This is the first meeting between the Gators and the Bulls
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