The Gators recorded a season-high .494 hitting clip with three players tallying double-digit kills.
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/11/10/Box_Score_vs._Alabama.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 22 Florida volleyball team extends their win streak to seven on Sunday after taking down Alabama 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-17) inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Gators improve to 9-3 in conference play and 18-5 overall.
Sunday’s win marks the first time since 2021 that Florida has won seven or more SEC matches in a row. The Gators won nine-consecutive conference matches from Oct. 16 to Nov. 21 during the 2021 season when two-match series were played back-to-back due to COVID-19 regulations.
Florida’s .494 hitting percentage marks a season best and was commanded by setter Alexis Stucky’s 46 assists. The All-American also posted a team-high five blocks, while recording four digs and two kills.
Sophomore All-American Kennedy Martin headlined the Gators offense with 16 kills to record her 44th-cosecutive double-digit-kill match. The Fort Mill, S.C. native also led the way for Florida behind the service line with three aces.
Outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick had 13 kills and hit a career-high a .550 clip (13-2-20). Freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste was the third and final Gator to finish in double digits with 11 kills. Redshirt senior Isabel Martin chipped in with seven, while freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe contributed to four of Florida’s 53 team kills.
The Gators held Alabama to a .195 hitting percentage and out blocked the Crimson Tide 7.0-3.0 in the three setter. Other than Stucky’s one solo block and four block assists, Rothe and Auguste totaled three blocks a piece, while K. Martin finished with one block assist.
In the backcourt, libero Elli McKissock totaled a team-high 15 digs to sit only six away from 2,000 career digs. The Martin duo each picked up six of their own, while five Gators added to Florida’s 39 team digs: Fitzpatrick (4), Stucky (4), junior Emily Canaan (2), junior Emerson Hoyle (1) and Auguste (1).
Records
No. 22 Florida (18-5, 9-3 SEC)
Alabama (10-12, 2-9 SEC)
How It Happened
Set 1
* Following a slow start, the Gators grabbed a two-point lead after Auguste put one down, as Florida went into the media timeout ahead 15-12. Out of the break, a block from Auguste and Stucky, a kill from Fitzpatrick and an ace from K. Martin extended the Gators lead to 18-13. Alabama called a timeout in hopes to slow Florida’s rhythm, but versatile contribution from the front row gave the Gators a 25-17 opening-set win. As a team, UF tallied 4.0 team blocks, with Stucky and Rothe both having a solo block.
* Set 1 Team Stats | .652 Hitting % | 18 Kills | 17 Assists | 10 Digs | 4.0 Team Blocks | 1 Ace
Set 2
* The Gators called an early timeout after trailing 5-9. Alabama extended their lead to six after tallying back-to-back kills and an ace, but points from Stucky, K. Martin and Rothe helped Florida creep back within four to make it 10-14. The Crimson Tide remained in control heading into the second half of set two, but back-to-back kills from K. Martin put the Gators within two. Following an Alabama timeout, Kennedy dropped an ace to kickstart a 7-0 scoring run, where Florida took a 21-16 lead. From there it was all Florida, as back-to-back kills from Isi Martin gave the Gators a 25-19 comeback win. The second set was led by K. Martin’s six kills and two aces.
* Set 2 Team Stats | .400 Hitting % | 18 Kills | 16 Assists | 16 Digs | 2.0 Team Blocks |
Set 3
* The Gators were the first to five after back-to-back kills from Auguste, and took a 7-4 lead to force an early Alabama timeout. Out of the huddle, Florida doubled their points for a 14-7 advantage and forced another opponent timeout. Fitzpatrick continued the momentum with three kills, but an Alabama ace followed by a Florida error allowed the Crimson Tide to inch back within five to make Coach Wise use her first timeout. Up 18-13, all-around effort from Gator attackers helped drive the home team to a 25-17 victory. In the third set alone, AC Fitzpatrick and Kennedy Martin both finished with five kills apiece, while Auguste had four of her own.
* Set 3 Team Stats | .483 Hitting % | 17 Kills | 16 Assists | 13 Digs | 2 Aces | 1.0 Team Block
Notables
* Two players either set or tied a career high:
* AC Fitzpatrick: .550 Hitting Percentage
* Alec Rothe: 1 Assist (Tied)
* Three Gators either set or tied a season high:
* AC Fitzpatrick: .550 Hitting Percentage
* Alexis Stucky: 5.0 Blocks (Tied)
* Alec Rothe: 1 Assist (Tied)
* Florida set four team three-set highs for the 2024 season:
* 65.0 Points
* .494 Hitting Percentage
* 53 kills
* 49 Assists
* Three Gators finished with double-digit kills:
* Kennedy Martin: 16
* AC Fitzpatrick: 13
* Jaela Auguste: 11
* Florida improves to 54-0 (52- under Wise) in the all-time series record against Alabama
* The Gators are now 50-0 in three-set matches against the Crimson Tide
* UF moves to 28-0 in matches played against Alabama in Gainesville, Fla.
* Florida sits 9-3 in three-set matches during the 2024 season
* The Gators improve to 6-3 in Sunday matches
* UF is now 3-0 during the month of November
* Kennedy Martin’s 16 Kills continues her streak of recording double-digit kills in every match she has played wearing the Orange and Blue (44 Matches)
* Elli McKissock’s 15 digs marks her eighth-straight match recording double-digit digs and was the only Florida player to finish with double-digits on Sunday
* Elli McKissock ranks 2nd for career digs (1994), 9th for career aces (137) and 21st for career assists (516) in Program history
* Alexis Stucky ranks 14th for career assists in Program history with 1845
Thoughts from Coach Wise
“Coming into this match, the knew the challenge would be presented in that Alabama had a week to prepare. We certainly saw that in the second set until Kennedy Martin showed us that she can score points behind the service line as well as in the front row.”
Hear from Fifth Year Libero Elli McKissock…
On defense being the catalysts for Florida during their win streak…
“The beginning of the season was tough in regards of finding our rhythm and flow. We have younger players that are having a big role on this team, so finding the groove between the front and back row has helped… Just trying to get as much quality so we can get that dig to transition kill.
Up Next
The Gators take the week to prepare for their road match on Friday, Nov. 15 against Missouri. First serve is set for 8 p.m. ET inside the Hearnes Center and will be streamed on SECN+. Additionally, fans can follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates or via live stats, which can be found on volleyball’s schedule page on FloridaGators.com. The Tigers currently sit one spot above Florida in conference rankings with an 8-2 record.
No. 22 Florida (18-5, 9-3 SEC) vs. RV Missouri (17-5, 8-2 SEC)
Friday, Nov. 15 | 8 p.m. ET
Hearnes Center – Columbia, MO
SECN+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/68b772fe-e322-47ad-accf-767bfc748cc3> | Live Stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=539092>
Series Information
* Series Record 13-5 (13-5 under Wise)
* 3-set: 8-1; 4-set: 3-1; 5-set: 2-3
* Home: 7-2; Away: 5-3; Neutral: 1-0
* Last time out | W, 3-0 | A | 25-18, 25-20, 25-20
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