Florida Falls to No. 12 Georgia Tech in Five-Set Heartbreaker
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/common/controls/doc_handler.aspx?doc=35587> | Postgame Press Conference Quotes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/12/2/Florida_Postgame_Quotes_-_NCAA_VB_12-1-23.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fourth-seeded Florida Volleyball team fought back from a 1-2 deficit to force a fifth set before falling 3-2 (25-22, 28-30, 21-25, 25-18, 14-16) to No. 12 Georgia Tech in the Second Round of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Friday in Exactech Arena.
The Gators, who were competing in their 34th Second Round, closed the season at 19-10 overall. They competed in their 33rd-straight appearance and earned hosting rights for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the 29th time in program history.
All-Sec and Freshman Kennedy Martin turned in yet another tremendous effort, recording 21 kills and nine digs while hitting .306. She recorded 20 or more kills in six matches this season.
Florida had four finish with double-digit kills behind the 54 assists from fifth-year setter Kennedy Muff. Kennedy Martin led the way for the 24th time this season with 21. Gabrielle Essix tied her career-high 12 kills, hitting .318. Seniors AC Fitzpatrick and Sofia Victoria recorded their 15th and 11th double-digit kill of the season, finishing with 16 and 10, respectfully.
Senior Nnedi Okammor’s eight blocks was a match-high and the 13th time in the 2023 season she led the way for Florida in blocks. Essix and Fitzpatrick both finished with five on the night, while Victoria had four of her own.
Playing her last match in Exactech Arena, Elli McKissock had 17 digs to pace the backcourt defense for the Gators. Kennedy Muff followed with 11, while Kennedy Martin (9) and Emily Canaan (8) combined for 17.
Florida was aggressive behind the service line, tallying six aces in the fifth setter with AC Fitzpatrick and Emily Canaan having two apiece.
Records
No. 20 Florida (19-10, 10-8 SEC)
No. 12 Georgia Tech (24-6, 13-5 ACC)
How It Happened
* Florida grabbed an early 7-4 lead in the opening set, but Georgia Tech battled back to gain a 10-8 lead. The Yellow Jackets maintained a steady two-point advantage and went into the media timeout ahead 15-13. Out of the break, a 3-0 scoring run being Paola Pimental’s serving extended their lead by four. The Gators put two points together following a Florida timeout. A Yellow Jacket hitting error made it only a two-point set and forced a Georgia Tech timeout. Kennedy Martin landed a deep ball to tie it up at 19 and from there the teams traded points back and forth until Gabrielle Essix recorded to huge block in the final five-points. Georgia Tech responded with a kill, but a service error gave Florida the 23-22 lead. Essix recorded another big block, making it set-point for Florida. The Gators went on to secure the first set after Martin put one down from the back to end the longest rally of the opening set and come away with a 25-22 win.
* Florida out blocked Georgia Tech 5.0-2.0 with
* There were 18 ties and eight lead changes in the second set. An ace from Emily Canaan put the Gators up 9-8 and points would be traded back-and-forth until an ace from AC Fitzpatrick boosted momentum for Florida who went on to score the two more points to head into the media timeout ahead 15-13. The Gators extended their lead to three, but Georgia Tech recorded an ace of their own to notch it up at 17. Florida was the first to 20, where an ace from Kennedy Muff and a Yellow Jacket service error made it 23-21. Similar to the middle of the set, Georgia Tech responded with an ace to tie it up at 23 and force Florida to call a timeout. There would be five ties in the final seven points before Georgia Tech came away with a 30-28 victory.
* The last 28-30 set in the NCAA Tournament was in 2021 against Wisconsin in the Reginal Final
* The Gators had a slow start, falling 9-1 at the start of the third set. Gabrielle Essix’s kill followed by a block awakened the Gators and eventually inch within three. The score remained a three-point gap throughout the middle of the set until Georgia Tech went on a 3-0 scoring run, going up 17-13. Out of a Florida timeout, the Gators trailed by five until AC Fitzpatrick’s serves were too much for the Yellow Jackets to receive and after a Kennedy Martin kill the Gators were back within three (23-20) but Georgia Tech was able to win the third set 25-21 to take a 2-1 match lead.
* Kennedy Martin recorded five kills and a .455 clip in the fourth set
* Florida regained control and started out the fourth set with an early 6-1 lead to force a Georgia Tech timeout. The Yellow Jackets closed the gap to three but an ace from Trinity Adams stopped them from getting any close. A strong performance from the service line in the fourth helped Florida keep a lead, as Emily Canaan had an ace to go up 12-6. Florida maintained a steady six-point advantage and a kill from Martin gave even more breathing room, extending the lead to eight. Georgia Tech would use its final timeout trailing 21-14 in hopes to regain momentum, but Sofia Victoria had the set-winning kill to win 25-18 and take the match into five for the 10th time this season
* The Gators hit .478 in the fourth set with four Gators recording two or more kills
* With the race to 15, Florida was the first to five. A clutch dump from Kennedy Muff caught the Yellow Jackets off guard and gave Florida a 6-4 lead. Georgia Tech had back-to-back errors, extending Florida’s lead to 8-4 lead. Georgia Tech grabbed the first three points after the two teams traded sides to inch within one and Florida would call a timeout still ahead 8-7. The Gators were the first to 10, but Georgia Tech’s Tamara Otene had eight kills in the final set, posting back-to-back kills to lead the Yellow Jackers to a 16-14 win.
* Kennedy Martin led the way for Florida with five kills in the final frame.
Notables
* Kennedy Martin recording 10 or more kills in every match this season.
* She recorded six matches with 20+ kills
* She finished her freshman season with 492 total kills, which is the most by any freshman in Florida history
* Elli McKissock’s finished her career with 1666 career digs (2nd in program history)
* Her 429 career assists are good for No. 25 in program history
* She is 18th in program history for career aces with 107.
* Kennedy Muff registered her eighth double-double of the season with 54 assists and 11 digs.
* The Gators are now 82-34 in the NCAA Tournament, including 82-33 under Mary Wise
* 62-8 in Gainesville, Florida, 61-8 under Wise
* UF is now 27-5 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament
* Florida is now 0-1 in five-set matches against Georgia Tech
* The Gators finished 5-5 in five-set matches in the 2023 season
FloridaGators.com<http://floridagators.com/index.aspx?path=volleyball>
Twitter<https://twitter.com/GatorsVB>
Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/gatorsvb/?hl=en>
Coach <http://www.twitter.com/GatorMary> Mary Wise<http://www.floridagators.com/coaches.aspx?rc=25> on Twitter | Coach <http://instagram.com/gatormary> Mary Wise<http://www.floridagators.com/coaches.aspx?rc=25> on Instagram
Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gator-Volleyball/154312757940308>
