Florida Falls to No. 10 Kentucky
The Gators finished with 12 team blocks.
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/common/controls/doc_handler.aspx?doc=35505>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 20th-ranked Florida volleyball team fell in three sets (18-25, 21-25, 20-25) against the 10-ranked Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon inside Rupp Arena. The Gators close out regular-season play with an 18-9, 10-8 SEC record, while Kentucky finishes with an 19-7, 17-1 SEC record.
After several ties and lead changes in the opening set, Florida fell 25-18. Despite a late comeback from the Gators in the second, Kentucky pulled away with a 25-21 win to gain a 2-0 match lead and followed up with a 25-20 victory in the third.
Kennedy Martin finished in double-digits with 14 kills to lead the way for Florida offensively. Gabrielle Essix and Sofia Victoria each pitched in with seven.
Fifth-year setter Kennedy Muff dished out 30 assists in the three-setter, while Elli McKissock pitched in one of her own.
The Gators out blocked the Wildcats, recording 12 team blocks compared to Kentucky’s five. Nnedi Okammor tallied a match-high six.
Elli McKissock finished with 14 digs to lead Florida’s backcourt, while seven other Gators contributed with three or more helpers of their own on the afternoon.
The Gators now await their NCAA Tournament fate as the Selection Show is set to air Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.
Records
No. 20 Florida (18-8, 10-8 SEC)
No. 10 Kentucky (19-7, 17-1 SEC)
How It Happened
* There were seven ties and five lead changes at the start of the opening set. After going back-and-forth, Victoria recorded her second block of the set to tie it up at six. Kentucky responded with a 3-0 scoring run, pulling ahead 11-8 to force a Florida timeout. The Wildcats maintained a three-point advantage out of the break and increased it to 18-14 after two back-to-back points. Florida’s block fueled momentum for the Gators, which kept them within five, but Kentucky’s .343 clip in the first frame pushed them to a 25-18 win.
* The Gators recorded three team blocks in the first compared to Kentucky’s zero.
* After a back-and-forth start to the second set, the Wildcats went on a 3-0 scoring run to gain a 9-6 lead. A kill from Gabrielle Essix closed to gap to one, but a service error extended the Wildcats lead as Florida went into the media timeout down 13-15. Out of the break, a kill from Kentucky’s Azhani Tealer followed by a Florida hitting error forced Florida to call a timeout trailing 14-17. The Gators regained momentum after Sofia Victoria recorded another solo block of match to inch within one (19-20) as Kentucky would call its first timeout. Back-to-back points extended the Wildcats lead to 23-20 and Florida would call its final timeout of the set. Kentucky scored the next two points, closing out the second set with a 25-21 victory.
* Sofia Victoria led the way offensively for Florida with four kills
* After falling to an early 6-3 deficit, Gabrielle Essix took advantage of a wide-open net, putting one down on the 10-foot line to inch within one. The Wildcats responded with a 4-0 scoring run to take a 12-7 lead and force Florida to call a timeout. Both teams recorded two service errors out of the timeout, but Kentucky maintained a steady lead, as Florida would call its final timeout of the set trialing 13-18. Out of the timeout, a backrow attack from Kennedy Martin followed up with a block from the freshman cut Kentucky’s lead to three. Kennedy Muff kept the rally going, tallying the Gators first and only ace of the afternoon to force the Wildcats to use a timeout. A block from Nnedi Okammor of the timeout made it 17-18, but Kentucky sided out to regain a two-point lead. After back-and-forth points, the Wildcats served an ace to take three-point lead and close out the final frame with a 25-20 win.
* Kennedy Martin finished with a team-high five kills in the final frame
Notables
* Kennedy Martin’s 14 kills continues her streak of registering 10+ kills in every single match this season
* Martin now has 457 career kills, the most from any freshman to come through Florida
* Elli McKissock’s 14 digs moves her to 1629 career digs (2nd in program history)
* Her 421 career assists are ranked No. 25 in program history
* The Gators are now 53-22 (51-15 under Wise) in all-times series against Kentucky
* Florida is now 37-12 in three-set matches against the Wildcats
* UF is now 23-10 in Lexington, Kentucky
Up Next
* NCAA Tournament Selection Show is set to air Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.
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