The Gators travel to Norman, Ok. for the first time in program history.
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/9/24/vs._Oklahoma.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 15 Florida volleyball team begins Southeastern Conference play on the road, traveling to Norman, Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 26 to face the Sooners inside McCasland Field House.
The 7 p.m. ET match will be on SEC Network+ with Chad McKee and Kelly Files on the call. Additionally, fans can follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates or via live stats.
Thursday’s matchup is the fourth time Florida and Oklahoma volleyball will meet, and marks the first time the programs will meet in Norman. The Gators currently hold a 3-0 all-time record against the Sooners, which have all been played inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The Gators head into SEC play on a 4-0-win streak, clinching three-straight wins at home last week against No. 18 Florida State, North Texas and Buffalo from Sept. 17-22. Two players earned SEC weekly awards following their performances: Alexis Stucky was named Overall Player of the Week and Setter of the Week, while Alec Rothe tallied her first Freshman of the Week accolade.
Broadcast Information:
* No. 16 Florida (9-2) vs. Oklahoma (5-9)
* Thursday, Sept. 26 | 7 p.m. ET
* McCasland Field House | Norman, Okla.
* SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/5ef401f1-403b-4f3c-b9c7-35b7bb90999a> | Live Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=539534>
Scouting Report:
Series Information
Series Record 3-0 (3-0 under Wise)
* 3-set: 2-0; 4-set: 0-0; 5-set: 1-0
* Home: 3-0; Away: 0-0; Neutral: 0-0
* Last time out | 2014 | H | W, 3-2 (25, 28-26, 25-12, 22-25, 15-8)
Match Notes Preview:
* Gator Duo Earns Three SEC Weekly Awards
* The Following a perfect 3-0 performance from the No. 15 Florida volleyball team, The Gators very own Alexis Stucky and Alec Rothe picked up their first 2024 SEC Weekly Accolades on Sept. 23. Stucky was named the SEC Player of the Week and SEC Setter of the Week, while Alec Rothe earned SEC Freshman of the Week. It marks Stucky’s third SEC Overall Player of the Week and SEC Setter of the Week award of her career. She now has tallied 12 SEC Weekly honors in her Gator career. Rothe’s Freshman of the Week award marks her first SEC award of her career.
* SHE’S BAAAAAACK
* 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 finished with 14 assists, one kill and one dig in her first set back. She made her 2024 start against Buffalo (Sept. 23) and posted 32 assists, eight digs, two kills, two blocks and one ace in the three setter.
* Attack Efficiency
* Through 11 matches in 2024, the Gators sit at a .324 clip in kill percentage, good for the highest total in the SEC and fourth-highest total in the NCAA. Florida has hit above .300 seven times this season and recorded their highest hitting percentage of .456 against Alabama State on Sept. 12. Additionally, the Gators have totaled five or less attack errors to five or less in 32 of their 40 sets played so far.
* Immediate impact
* Five of Florida’s fresh faces – Jaela Auguste, Erin Engel, Taylor Parks, Isabel Martin and Alec Rothe – have taken no time to adjust to their new environment. Through ten matches, the three freshman and two transfers have contributed 54.03% kills, 78.36% assists, 43.37% aces, 29.66% digs, 65.22% block solos, 59.71% block assists, 61.08% total blocks and 53.71% points to Florida’s average stat line.
* Gatorace
* Florida’s 16 aces against Alabama State on Sept. 12 ties for second nationally for team aces in a three-set match. The Gators are currently averaging 2.08 aces per set as a team, which ranks first in the SEC and 13th in the nation. Taylor Parks and Elli McKissock are both individually ranked in the Conference, with Parks sitting fifth and McKissock eighth.
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