Gators Face No. 10 Kentucky on the Road
Florida faces the Wildcats in its regular-season finale.
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/common/controls/doc_handler.aspx?doc=35498>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 20th-ranked Florida volleyball team (18-8, 10-7 SEC) closes out the regular season on the road, traveling to Lexington, Kentucky for a top-20 matchup against No. 10 Kentucky (18-7, 16-1 SEC).
Florida is coming off a four-set victory against South Carolina on Wednesday, while the Wildcats swept No. 9 Arkansas on the road to be named SEC Conference Champions.
The Gators hold a 53-21 series advantage over the Wildcats, including a 23-9 record in Lexington, KY.
Last Time Against Kentucky (Nov. 5, 2023)
* L, 1-3 (23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25)
* Freshman Kennedy Martin continued to dominate offensively, registering her second-consecutive 25+ kill game, finishing with a .432 clip off 27 kills to lead the Gators. Sofia Victoria had nine of her own, and Gabbi Essix finished with 7.
* Kennedy Muff dished out 47 assists in the match, leading the team to a .229 hitting efficiency.
* Florida was a force at the night, topping Kentucky’s nine team blocks with 13, led by Gabriellei Essix’s seven blocks, followed by Nnedi Okammor’s five.
* Elli McKissock came up with a team-high 19 digs in the backcourt for Florida. Kennedy Muff registered 11 of her own, followed by seven from both Trinity Adams and Kennedy Martin.
* Florida wraps up its three-game home series on Friday, Nov. 10 against LSU. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. ET inside the Exactech Arena.
Gators in the SEC
* Florida has at least one player ranked in the following categories:
* Kennedy Martin: Kills per set (1st | 4.34) Points per set: (2nd | 5.18)
* Gabrielle Essix: Blocks per set (4th | 1.27)
* Nnedi Okammor: Blocks per set (6th | 1.26)
* Kennedy Muff: Assists per set (6th | 10.15)
* Elli McKissock: Digs per set (7th | 3.85)
* Florida is ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in the following categories:
* Blocks per set: (2nd | 2.66)
* Hitting percentage: (4th | .265)
* Assists per set: (4th | 12.43)
* Kills per set: (4th | 13.20)
* Service aces per set: (4th |1.62)
Mighty Martin
* On Nov. 22, Freshman Kennedy Martin posted 26 kills against South Carolina to surpass Ziva Recek’s 440 freshman kill record that was set in 2012. Martin sits No. 1 for most freshman kills in Florida history with 443 and counting. Recek was named the AVCA National Freshman of the year in 2012.
* Freshman Kennedy Martin has recorded 10 or more kills in every match this season.
* Has posted six double-doubles
* Her 28 kills against No. 11 Tennessee (11/3) and 27 kills against No. 13 Kentucky (11/5) marks the first time since 2001 a Florida player recorded 50+ kills in back-to-back matches.
* Ranks No. 19 nationally in kills per set, and is No. 1 in the SEC (4.34)
* Ranks No. 16 in points per set, and is ranked No. 2 in the SEC (5.18)
* Her 443 kills lead the team this season as well as leads Florida in points per set with a 5.18 average.
* Has earned three SEC weekly honors, two SEC Overall/Offensive Player and one SEC Freshman of the Week. Martin is the first Florida freshman to earn an SEC honor each of their first three weeks in the program
* She recorded 45 kills in the opening two matches of the 2023 season and was the most for a Florida freshman in the rally-scoring era. Her 27 kills against South Florida were the most for a Florida freshman in their opening weekend of play in the rally-scoring era
* On Tuesday, Aug. 29, Kennedy Martin was named the AVCA National Division I Player of the Week for her performances against Penn State and South Florida. She joins the ranks of Alexis Stucky (2022), Rhamat Alhassan (2014), Kelly Murphy (2008) and Elyse Cusack (2006) for the Florida freshmen to win the honor and she was the first to do so after her first weekend of play
No. 20 Florida vs. No. 10 Kentucky
Date & Time: Nov. 25 | 1 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/7aefc731-367c-4f9f-90d1-8f9c1d5de132> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=478145&vislive=fla>
Series Information – No. 20 Florida vs. No. 10 Kentucky
Wildcats | 2023 season: 18-7, 15-1 SEC
* This is the 55th meeting between the Gators and the Wildcats
* Florida leads 53-21 (51-14 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 37-11 | 4-set: 9-3 | 5-set: 7-7
* Home: 26-11 | Away: 23-9 | Neutral: 4-1
* Last Time Out: Nov. 5, 2023 | Gainesville, Fla. | L, 1-3 (23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25)
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