The Gators head into SEC play with a four-match win streak and a 9-2 overall record.
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/9/22/Box_Score.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 Florida volleyball team swept Buffalo (25-15, 25-9, 25-16) on Sunday afternoon inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center to finish with a perfect 3-0 record on the week. The Gators conclude nonconference play with an 9-2 overall record and head into SEC play with a four-match win streak.
Florida’s .442 attacking clip was captained by redshirt sophomore Alexis Stucky, who tallied 32 assists after making her first 2024 start. Sophomore Kennedy Martin led Florida’s attack with 12 kills, while fifth year AC Fitzpatrick and redshirt senior Isabel Martin recorded eight and seven of their own, respectfully. Freshman Jaela Auguste tallied five in Sunday’s sweep, with freshman Alec Rothe (4), freshman Lauren Harden (2), Stucky (2) and junior Amaya Thomas (1) had a combined nine of the Gators 41 team kills.
The Gators ruled the service line, posting 11 service aces in the three setter. Junior Emily Canaan became the first Gator since 2018 to serve 10+ consecutive points after going on a 13-0 service run in the second set, while tying her career-high five aces. Additionally, four other players added at least one ace to the stat sheet: Elli McKissock (2), Isi Martin (2), K. Martin (1) and Stucky (1).
On the defensive end, fifth-year libero, McKissock finished with a team-high 15 digs, while adding five assists to her stat line. Stucky picked up eight digs of her own, with the Martin duo combining for 11. On the blocking end, Florida’s strong front resulted in 8.5 team blocks and held Buffalo to a .080 hitting percentage.
Records
No. 16 Florida (9-2, 0-0 SEC)
Buffalo (4-9, 0-0 MAC)
How It Happened
Set 1
* Tied 9-9 at the start of the opening set, the Gators scored six-consecutive points behind Stucky’s serving and went into the media timeout with a 15-9 lead. A tip from K. Martin followed by an ace from Isi Martin continued the Gators momentum and Buffalo called a timeout after Florida climbed to a 20-12 advantage. Out of the break, Florida’s front row brought it to 24-13, but the Bulls scored back-to-back points of their own to stay alive. Thanks to the Gators .481 hitting percentage in the first set, Florida was able to grab a 25-15 win.
* Set 1 Team Stats | .481 Hitting % | 16 Digs | 15 Kills | 15 Assists | 3.5 Team Blocks | 3 Aces
Set 2
* A 4-0 scoring run from McKissock’s serving forced Buffalo to call an early timeout after Florida started on top with a 7-2 lead. Back-to-back kills from Isi Martin and an ace from Canaan extended the Gators gap to 13-4, and the Bulls called their second timeout. Out of the huddle, Canaan continued her aggressive serving, dropping four aces in her 13-point serving run to give Florida a 22-4 advantage The Bulls responded with three-consecutive points of their own, but a block from Thomas and Harden clinched Florida’s 25-9 set-two win.
* Set 2 Team Stats | .458 Hitting % | 13 Kills | 12 Digs | 11 Assists | 6 aces | 2.0 Team Blocks
Set 3
* Both teams exchanged points at the start of the third set, but another serving run from McKissock put Florida up 13-9. From there, it was an all-around effort from the home team as six Gators recorded a kill, while four had at least one block assist to help Florida take the final set, 25-16. K. Martin led the way with six kills and Stucky tallied 11 assists and three digs.
* Set 3 Team Stats | .385 Hitting % | 13 Kills | 13 Assists | 12 Digs | 3.0 Team Block | 2 Aces
Notables
* Three Gators set or tied career highs
* Emily Canaan: 5 Aces (Tied)
* Jaela Auguste: 1 Dig (Tied)
* Lauren Harden: 1 Dig | 1 Block (Tied)
* Three Gators set or tied season highs
* Alexis Stucky: 32 Assists | 8 Digs | 2 Kills | 2 Blocks | 1 Ace
* Isabel Martin: 2.0 Blocks (Tied)
* Kennedy Martin: 2 Assists
* Kennedy Martin continues her streak of posting double-digit kills in every match played wearing the Orange the Blue.
* Emily Canaan’s 13-consectuve serving run marks the first time since 2018 a Gator served 10+ consecutive points. Thayer Hall served 18 consecutive points against FUI on Sept. 14, 2018.
* The Gators are now 1-0 (1-0 under Coach Wise) in the all-time series record against the Bulls
* Florida becomes 1-0 in three-set matches against Buffalo
* UF holds a 1-0 record against Buffalo in Gainesville, Fla.
* The Gators move to 5-1 in three-set matches during the 2024 season
* UF is now 8-0 when hitting .300 hitting percentage or higher.
Thoughts from Head Coach Wise
* “Elli McKissock set the tone for us. From the start of the first set and what she did defensively, which is still a work in progress as we work through the lineup.”
Hear from Redshirt Sophomore Setter Alexis Stucky
On leading her team to a .442 hitting percentage and how it feels to be setting again…
* “I am just so thrilled to be back on the court with my teammates. Our passers did such an amazing passing today, so I had a lot of opportunities to spread the offense.”
Up Next
* Florida travels to Norman, Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 26 as the Gators will face the unranked Sooners to open up SEC play. The Gators’ match against the newest Conference member is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on SEC Network + or fans can follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates.
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>
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)
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