For the first time since 1998, the Kohl Center will see volleyball action
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2022/9/14/10_Wisconsin.pdf> | Kohl Center Information<https://uwbadgers.com/sports/2022/6/13/volleyball-kohl-center-match-frequently-asked-questions.aspx>
MADISON, Wisc. – The 16th-ranked Florida volleyball team is set to face its second Top-5 opponent this season, taking on the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
First serve is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET on the BIG TEN Network with Anne-Marie Anderson and Emily Ehman on the call.
This is the first time the Kohl Center has hosted volleyball since the 1998 Final Four. Head Coach Mary Wise is familiar with the arena, as she was at the helm of that Florida National Semifinalist Team – the third-straight national semifinal trip for the Gators (1996, 1997, 1998).
Florida is coming off a sweep of in-state rival Florida State, while Wisconsin defeated Campbell in straight sets in its last contest.
The Gators hold the 5-1 series advantage over the Badgers.
Last Time Against Wisconsin
* The last time these two squads faced off was the 2020-21 Regional Final in Omaha, Neb. Wisconsin won the tough five-set battle (28-30, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 12-15)
* Florida’s offensive attack was led by Thayer Hall, who posted 23 kills on the evening – just two shy of her career-best. T’ara Ceasar followed with 17 kills in the five-setter, while Lauren Forte added 10
* Marlie Monserez anchored Florida’s offense, dishing out 46 assists on the night
* As a team, the Gators recorded 12.0 blocks and held the Badgers to a .153 clip in the match. Holly Carlton and Forte each notched seven blocks on the night to lead the way for Florida
* The backcourt defense was led by Elli McKissock, who posted 23 digs in the match. Monserez added 22 of her own – a new career-high for the junior – while Ceasar added 19 of her own, tying her career-best. Hall rounded out the Gators in double-digit digs, posting 16 in the five-setter
* Florida recorded seven service aces in the match, led by four from Ceasar
Last Time Out
* Florida swept the Florida State Seminoles in the Sunshine Showdown on Tuesday night in Exactech Arena (25-19, 29-27, 25-22)
* Merritt Beason led the offense attack with 13 kills and a .400 clip, while Marina Markova followed closely behind with 12 kills and a .400 hitting efficiency of her own. Gabrielle Essix added nine kills on 15 swings (.467) in the victory, while Sofia Victoria (8) and Bre Kelley (6) rounded out the Gator scorers
* Alexis Stucky dished out 41 assists in the match, a three-set best for the freshman, while leading the Gators to a .345 clip
* At the net, Florida registered nine blocks, led by five from Essix. Stucky, Kelley and Beason each posted three in the sweep
* Elli McKissock paced the backcourt defense with a 16-dig performance, moving her to 22nd-place in program history with 924 career digs. Emily Canaan and Beason each tallied seven digs in the match, followed by six from Stucky
* McKissock also led the way behind the service line, picking up two aces, while Trinity Adams and Canaan each pitched in one.
Gators in the SEC
* As a team, Florida sits in the top-5 in the league in the following categories:
* Hitting percentage: 5th (.283)
* Service aces: 5th (2.00)
* Opponent hitting percentage: 1st (.136)
* Blocks per set: 3rd (2.75)
* Individually, the following Gators are ranked in the top-10 in the conference:
* Merritt Beason:
* Aces per set: 6th (0.48)
* Points per set: 10th (4.33)
* Alexis Stucky:
* Assists per set: 3rd (10.17)
* Bre Kelley:
* Hitting percentage: 7th (.403)
* Blocks per set: 8th (1.22)
* Gabrielle Essix:
* Blocks per set: 7th (1.27)
* Elli McKissock
* Digs per set: 7th (3.91)
Potential Sell-Out
* Wisconsin is looking to break the NCAA regular-season attendance record of 15,797 set less than two weeks ago when Creighton hosted Nebraska in the CHI Health Center in Omaha
* The Kohl Center seats more than 17,000 fans for men’s and women’s basketball
Top Regular Season NCAA Attendance Marks
1.
15,797
Nebraska at Creighton
9/7/22
CHI Health Center
Omaha, Neb.
2.
14,022
Nebraska at Creighton
9/6/18
CHI Health Center
Omaha, Neb.
3.
13,870
UCLA at Nebraska
9/13/09
Devaney Sports Center
Lincoln, Neb.
4.
13,412
LSU at Nebraska
9/12/08
Devaney Sports Center
Lincoln, Neb.
5.
13, 396
Hawaii at Nebraska
10/21/08
Devaney Sports Center
Lincoln, Neb.
No. 16 Florida at No. 4 Wisconsin Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Sept. 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: BIG Ten Network
Live Stream: BIG TEN Network<https://www.foxsports.com/live/btn>
Live Stats: Sidearm<https://uwbadgers.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary>
Series Information – No. 16 Florida at No. 4 Wisconsin
Badgers | 2022 season synopsis: 5-1
* This is the seventh meeting between the Gators and the Badgers
* Florida leads 5-1 (5-1 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 2-0 | 4-set: 1-0 | 5-set: 2-1
* Home: 1-0 | Away: 2-0 | Neutral: 2-1
* Last Time Out: April 19, 2021 | Omaha, Neb. | Regional Final | (28-30, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 12-15)
TICKET INFO | Gator Ticket Office Online<http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_volleyball_.aspx> | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
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