The Gators out blocked the Tar Heels 11-6 and finished with 42 digs to UNC’s 32, but recorded only one ace to 11 service errors.
Box Score<file:///C:/Users/AbbyW/Downloads/Florida%202025%20Season%20Stats.pdf>
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 11 Florida volleyball team fell in three sets, 23-25, 18-25, 21-25, to No. 25 North Carolina in the SEC-ACC Challenge on Tuesday night at Carmichael Arena to close out its three-match road stint with a 2-1 record.
Alexis Stucky and Taylor Parks shared the setting duties tonight, with Stucky having 19 assists and Parks finishing with eight.
As a team, Florida hit .155 with Jordyn Byrd leading the offense with 10 kills. Aniya Madkin pitched in eight and both Jaela Auguste and Alec Rothe had seven a piece to hit .308 and .417 on the night, respectfully.
At the net, the Gators opened the night with a set-high 6.0 blocks to out-block the Tar Heels 11.0-6.0 in the three-setter. Rothe led the way with five, while Jaela Auguste had two solo blocks to finish with four total. Kira Hutson recorded four as well to tie her career best. Byrd pitched in two and Stucky, Madkin and Parks recorded one each.
In the backcourt, the Gators finished with 42 digs to North Carolina’s 32. Freshman libero Lily Hayes picked up a team-high 13, with eight names contributing atleast one dig for Florida: Emily Canaan (7), Stucky (7), Ella Vogel (6), Hutson (4), Byrd (2), Madkin (1), Vidacic (1) and Rothe (1).
Florida struggled behind the service line with 11 errors with Milica Vidacic dropping the Gators one ace, while UNC registered five in the sweep.
Records:
No. 11 Florida (4-2, 0-0 SEC)
No. 25 North Carolina (5-0, 0-0 ACC)
Series record:
12-2 (0-1 under Theis)
3-set: 6-2; 4-set: 4-0; 5-set: 2-0
Home: 4-0; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 4-0
How It Happened
Set 1
* After exchanging the opening points, Florida was the first to five (5-4) after a block from Hutson and Auguste. UNC scored three-straight to pull ahead 10-8 and head into the media timeout with a 15-12 lead. The Gators grabbed the first point following the break thanks to a tool off the block from Madkin, but the Tar Heels responded with a kill and an ace to pull ahead 18-13 and force Coach Theis to call a timeout. Out of the huddle, back-to-back kills from Byrd inched Florida back within two (16-18) to make UNC use their first timeout. A block from Stucky kept the momentum going, but service errors allowed North Carolina a 21-18 advantage. Back-to-back points from UNC made it 23-18, but a tip from Byrd kept the Gators alive, as back-to-back blocks from Rothe and Stucky put Florida back within two (21-23). Following Carolina’s second timeout, a block from Byrd and Rothe helped Florida tie it up at 23, but back-to-back kills from UNC gave the home team a 25-23 set-one victory.
* Set 1 Stats | .242 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 12 Assists | 16 Digs | 6.0 Blocks (set-high) | 0 Aces
* UNC Stats| .143 Hitting %| 15 Kills | 11 Assists | 10 Digs | 2 Aces | 1.0 Blocks
Set 2
* After falling 3-6, a slide from Auguste inched the Gators back within one before UNC recorded back-to-back kills to force for a Florida timeout after falling to a 4-8 deficit. Out of the huddle, UNC kept attacking, as they pulled ahead to a 14-5 lead, as the Gators used their second timeout of the set. Out of the huddle, kills from Byrd and Rothe help keep the fight, but Carolina maintained a 10-point advantage until Vidacic subbed in off the bench to drop an ace and kickstart a 3-0 scoring run and inch within seven (11-18) and force a UNC timeout. Following the break, a solo block from Auguste kept the momentum going, as Florida pulled within five (15-20) but the early lead mixed with Gator service errors allowed UNC to come away with a 25-18 win.
* Set 2 Team Stats | .209 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 11 Assists |12 Digs |1.0 Block | 1 Ace
* UNC Stats | .419 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 13 Assists | 10 Digs |2.0 Blocks | 1 Ace
Set 3
* A 3-0 scoring run from Florida allowed for a 5-4 lead, as back-to-back blocks led by Byrd allowed for an 11-7 advantage and force UNC to call a timeout. Out of the huddle, Carolina responded with five-straight points to pull ahead by one (13-12) and make the Gators call a timeout. Following the break, UNC continued its momentum with a 5-3 scoring run to take a 19-15 advantage and force Florida to use their second timeout heading into the final moments of set three. A kill from Stucky followed by a Carolina attacking error put the Gators back within two (19-21) before UNC went on a 4-2 scoring run out of a timeout to clinch the sweep after winning the third set 25-21.
* Set 3 Team Stats | .000 Hitting %|8 Kills |6 Assists |14 Digs | 4.0 Blocks | 0 Aces
* UNC Stats | .144 Hitting %| 11 Kills | 10 Assists |12 Digs |3.0 Blocks |2 Aces
Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:
“It’s tough to win on the road twice and I thought we did a nice job defensively, but was disappointed in our serve game tonight, one ace and 11 errors. We couldn’t get point runs to get any kind of lead established, but I really liked what our middles did in transition. North Carolina came out really well and we certainly didn’t match that from the service line.”
Notables
* Florida moves to 2-1 in three-set matches this season.
* The Gators are now 2-1 in road matches.
* UF is now 1-2 against teams ranked in the AVCA Top-25
* Florida sits 1-1 when playing on a Tuesday.
* The Gators are now 2-1 in September play.
* Florida is now 1-1 against ACC opponents.
Up Next
Florida returns to the O’Dome on Sunday, Sept. 14 for a top-20 showdown against No. 20 Baylor (5-1, 0-0 Big 12). First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN2 with Sam Gore and Missy Whittemore on the call. Radio coverage will be provided by Nick Cheronis and Tom Collett on ESPN 98.1/850 AM WRUF. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a 2025 Florida volleyball schedule magnet, while kids 12 and under will have the opportunity to take home a Florida volleyball bucket hat and enjoy face painting. Click here to check out Florida volleyball’s 2025 home match themes and promotions.<https://floridagators.com/news/2025/8/15/florida-volleyball-announces-2025-promotional-schedule.aspx>
vs. No. 20 Baylor
* Date & Time: Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET
* Venue: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
* Tickets:https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/VkIyNTAz?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=SCHED&utm_campaign=VB-SINGLE&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_SCHED_VB-SINGLE
* Promotion: Lil Gators Day
* 250 Florida volleyball bucket hats (kids 12 & under)
* Face painting
* 500 schedule magnets
* Broadcast: ESPN2
* Play-by-Play: Sam Gore
* Analysts: Missy Whittemore
* Listen: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5756&type=Live>
* Talent: Nick Cheronis and Tom Collett
* LiveStats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=600748
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