The Gators face Auburn on Friday, Nov. 8 and Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 10 inside the O’Dome.
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/7/Match_Notes_vs._Auburn.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 22 Florida volleyball team host back-to-back Alabama teams this weekend, welcoming Auburn Tigers and Alabama to Gainesville. The Gators will face the Tigers on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s match against the Crimson Tide is set for 1 p.m. inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Both matches will be streamed live on SEC Network+ as well as can be heard on 98.1FM/850AM. Additionally, follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates or via live stats, which can be found on volleyball’s schedule page on FloridaGators.com.
No. 24 Florida (16-5, 7-3) vs. Auburn (14-8, 4-7 SEC)
Friday, Nov. 8 | 7 p.m. ET
Exactech Arena – Gainesville, Fla.
SECN+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/cd8d0373-76ae-4547-8e03-b3ebf0abee4f> | Listen<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5505&type=Live> | Live Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=538171> | Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/VkIyNDEz>
No. 24 Florida (16-5, 7-3) vs. Alabama (10-11, 2-8 SEC)
Sunday, Nov. 10 | 1 p.m. ET
Exactech Arena – Gainesville, Fla.
SECN+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/af98b767-36ed-41ee-8478-c101095f834f> | Listen<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5505&type=Live> | Live Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=538171> | Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/VkIyNDEz>
Marketing Giveaways:
* Friday is Florida’s Prizapooloza match, where fans can enter for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch, JBL Speaker, a 40-inch TV and tons of Gator gear
* 1,000 volleyball blankets will be available for fans on Sunday upon entry at Gates one and three
Florida’s last time out:
* The Gators came away with a 3-1 win (25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 25-18) against Ole Miss on Sunday, Nov. 3 inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Sunday’s win extends the Gators win streak to five for a 7-3 conference record, while climbing to 16-5 overall.
* Sophomore All-American Kennedy Martin led the way offensively with 22 kills, marking her 42nd consecutive match that she has finished with double-digit kills. Redshirt senior Isabel Martin joined her fellow Gator in double digits with 11 to mark her 11th match this season she has finished in double-digits offensively. Freshman Alec Rothe followed closely with nine kills of her own, while three other front row hitters contributed to Florida’s 57 total kills: Jaela Auguste (6), AC Fitzpatrick (5) and Amaya Thomas (2).
* Setter Taylor Parks tallied 48 assists and 10 digs to earn her third double-double of her career. The freshman also had a career-high three blocks, two kills and two aces for 5.5 points.
* As a team, Florida registered 7.0 team blocks with freshman Alec Rothe leading the charge with a one solo block and four block assists.
* In the backcourt, Libero Elli McKissock posted 20 digs for the second-straight match, while also dropping a team-high three aces behind the service line. Junior Emily Canaan had a season-high 10 digs to be the third Gator to finish with double-digit digs.
On Auburn (14-8 overall, 4-7 SEC):
* Auburn, who was projected to finish 10th in the SEC’s Preseason Poll, currently is sitting third to last in the league with a 4-7 record. They have lost their last six matches, as the Tigers are coming off a reverse sweep at Arkansas on Nov. 3.
* Auburn ranks third in the league for blocks during conference play, averaging 2.51 per set. Middle blocker Chelsey McCurdy averages 1.13 per set to sit ninth in the SEC.
* The Tigers 14.02 digs per set average is fifth throughout conference play, while libero Alexis Dacosta ranks sixth individually after averaging 3.89 digs per set.
* On the offensive side, Auburn is sitting in the middle of the pack. Their .247 hitting percentage is seventh in the SEC, their 12.11 assists per set ranks eighth and their 12.74 kills per set is ninth. Right Side Bella Bell ranks 10th individually in hitting percentage, with her .331 hitting clip.
On Alabama (10-11 overall, 2-8 SEC):
* Alabama’s 2-8 SEC record sits 15th in conference play, with their two wins being Auburn and Georgia in five sets.
* In their 10 league matches, the Crimson Tide is currently a hitting .181 clip, while averaging 12.00 kills per set and 11.26 assists per set.
* Defensively, Alabama is averaging 1.85 blocks per set and 13.38 digs per set, while serving 1.08 aces per set behind the line.
* Senior libero Francesca Bertucci is the only player to rank individually, sitting second in the SEC for digs per set with 4.41.
Match Notes Preview:
* MARTIN MADNESS
* Sophomore All-American Kennedy Martin has made a historic comeback after missing seven matches in the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury. She recorded 31 kills in two-consecutive matches against Tennessee on Oct. 25 and at Arkansas on Oct. 30. Her 31 kills set Florida’s individual single-game-kill record in the 25-point scoring. Her career-high marks the most kills in a four-set match, as former Gator Aury Cruz, the four-time AVCA All-American and three-time SEC Player of the Year, recorded 31 kills against Nebraska on December 8, 2001 in Florida’s Final Four match, which went into five sets. Cruz’s recorded 31 kills twice in her career when rally scoring went to 30 points.
* Playing in only 68 percent of Florida’s sets, Martin is averaging 5.86 points per set, 5.10 kills per set, 1.44 digs per set, 0.62 blocks per set and 0.42 aces per set. Additionally, the Fort Mill, S.C. native has recorded double-digit kills in every collegiate match she has played in (42 matches).
* Furthermore, Martin’s kills per set (5.10) and points per set (5.86) sit third in the nation, while she currently ranks No. 1 in the SEC in both. She is fourth in aces per set (0.44) and ninth for average hitting percentage (.350).
* IMMEDIATE IMPACT
* Seven of Florida’s fresh faces – Jaela Auguste, Erin Engel, Bella Lee, Taylor Parks, Isabel Martin, Alec Rothe and Lauren Harden – have taken no time to adjust to their new environment. Through 19 matches, the five freshman and two transfers have contributed 48.21% kills, 60.66% assists, 32.45% aces, 28.51% digs, 57.58% block solos, 59.49% block assists, 59.12% total blocks and 47.45% points to Florida’s average stat line.
* HIT SQUAD: THE POWER OF MANY
* Florida’s front row has seen versatile attacking from all positions at the net. Four different Gators have led the team in kills at least once this season, while five Gator attackers are currently averaging a .300 hitting percentage or higher: Jaela Auguste .378% (K: 123, E:33, TA:238), Kennedy Martin .350% (K:265 E:79, TA:532), Lauren Harden .346% (K:10, E:1, TA:26) Alec Rothe .338% (K:108, E:28, TA:237), Amaya Thomas .368% (K:61, E:98, TA:114)
Series Information:
Auburn Tigers
* Series Record 54-2 (50-1 under Wise)
* 3-set: 40-0, 4-set: 12-1; 5-set: 3-1
* Home: 26-0; Away: 26-2; Neutral: 3-0
* Last time out | L, 0-3 | H | 23-25, 20-25, 17-25
Alabama Crimson Tide
* Series Record 53-0 (51-0 under Wise)
* 3-set: 49-0, 4-set: 4-0; 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 27-0; Away: 23-0; Neutral: 3-0
* Last time out | W, 3-0 | H | 25-23, 25-20, 25-22
Fans can purchase single-game tickets for the remaining matches. To purchase, click here<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/buy?id=NzEx>. For more information on volleyball tickets, call the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683<tel:3523754683>.
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