The Gators take on the reigning SEC Champions inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/9/28/vs._Kentucky.pdf> | Tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/VkIyNDA3> | ESPN<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/2e6111b4-70fd-416d-82d7-38f1acf58655> | Listen<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5488> | Live Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=538165>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 15 Florida volleyball team will face their highest-ranked opponent so far this season, welcoming No. 12 Kentucky to Gainesville on Sunday. The top-15 matchup is slated for 1 p.m. inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Florida’s conference home-opener will be aired on ESPN with Holly McPeak and Courtney Lyle on the call. Additionally, fans can listen to Tom Collett and Nick Cheronis on 98.1FM/850AM or can follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates.
The Gators are coming off of a dramatic five-set win at Oklahoma on Thursday night after rallying back from a 3-9 deficit in the fifth set to defeat newest league-member, Oklahoma 3-2 (25-21,19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13). The Gators tallied their first Southeastern Conference win of the season inside McCasland Field House to win the 34th consecutive conference opener in program history.
The Wildcats arrive in Gainesville with a 6-6 overall and 0-1 SEC record after falling to Auburn in five Friday night inside Neville Arena. The Tigers took down No. 12 Kentucky for the first time since 2010, 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-20, 18-16).
Volleyball Parking
* Stephen C. O’Connell Center Address: 250 Gale Lemerand Drive Gainesville, FL 32611. Use this address, or type in O’Connell Center into your GPS system.
* General Parking is available in the main O’Connell Center lot and garage on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking is also available on Fraternity Row, or at the Fredric G. Levin College of Law. DO NOT PARK on or in city streets or neighborhoods.
* Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the O’Connell Center lot with a valid Disabled Placard.
Free Gators Plush Hats & Student Giveaways
* Fans in attendance will have the chance to receive a free Gators Plush Hat
* Students: Free fresh-baked cookies for the first 250 students in line
* Students in attendance can also enter for a chance to win a free E-Scooter
Match Notes Preview
* SHE’S BAAAAAACK
* Gator fans rose to their feet at the start of the third set of Florida’s match vs. North Texas on Sept. 20 when Alexis Stucky 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. Since then, the redshirt sophomore has started in Florida’s two matches, totaling 90 assists, 13 digs, six blocks, six kills and five aces.
* 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.
* 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 12 matches, the three freshman and two transfers have contributed 52.19% kills, 71.58% assists, 38.95% aces, 29.17% digs, 65.22% block solos, 62.58% block assists, 63.18% total blocks and 51.68% 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 2.11 aces per set as a team, which ranks first in the SEC and 9th in the nation. Elli McKissock and Taylor Parks are both individually ranked in the Conference, with McKissock sitting fifth (0.44) and Taylor sixth (0.44).
Scouting Report
* 2024 Record
* 6-6 overall | 0-1 SEC
* Series history
* Series Record 53-22 (51-15 under Wise)
* 3-set: 37-12; 4-set: 9-3; 5-set: 7-7
* Home: 26-11; Away: 23-10; Neutral: 4-1
* Last time out: 2023 | L, 1-3 | H | 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25
* Quick Hits
* UK has won seven-straight SEC Championships.
* Emma Grome and Brooklyn DeLeye returning AVCA All-Americans from 2023. Grome is a 2x All-American.
* Kentucky has qualified for 19-straight NCAA Tourneys
* UK began the season ranked No. 9 in the AVCA Coaches’ Poll.
* Transferring into Kentucky is one player in 2024, Delaney Hogan from Xavier
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