UF VB | Gators Head to Tuscaloosa to Face Crimson Tide

Florida and Alabama are facing off for the 50th time in program history

Match Notes<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_10_18_19-5FAlabama.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=AYUtyfIvIwhvEffLEiN49_h5DhK5AaOJnuC8ncQXqQs&s=YEHo4P5RpBCuhAKRgeTrRikDDYCaaYCZJmH0fSTHTCk&e= >

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 23 Florida volleyball team (12-6, 6-2 SEC) heads to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (9-9, 1-5 SEC) on Wednesday night in Foster Auditorium.

First serve is slated for 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU with Courtney Lyle and Missy Whittemore on the call. The match can also be heard on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM.

Florida is coming off a sweep of Texas A&M on Saturday, while Alabama has not played since Oct. 13, when they topped Missouri in five sets.

The Gators hold the 49-0 series advantage over the Crimson Tide, including a 47-0 record under Mary Wise.

SEC Setter of the Week

* Monserez earned her fourth SEC Setter of the Week award on Oct. 18
* The senior setter dished out 34 assists against the Aggies, averaging 11.33 assists per set in the win
* Monserez led the Gators to a .438 clip, the third-highest hitting percentage of the season
* The Windermere, Fla. native also recorded four digs, three kills and two blocks against Texas A&M

Gators in the SEC

* Through the season thus far, Florida has at least one player ranked in the following categories
* Hitting percentage: Lauren Forte (2nd, .468)
* Kills per set: T’ara Ceasar (7th, 3.70)
* Assists per set: Marlie Monserez (3rd, 11.09)
* Service aces per set: T’ara Ceasar (4th, 0.39) | Elli McKissock (8th, 0.33)
* Blocks per set: Lauren Dooley (8th, 1.18)
* Digs per set: Elli McKissock (5th, 4.19)
* Points per set: T’ara Ceasar (5th, 4.37)
* Through the season thus far, Florida is ranked in the Top-10 in the conference in the following categories:
* Hitting percentage: 1st (.289)
* Opponent hitting percentage: 6th (.187)
* Assists per set: 2nd (13.00)
* Kills per set: 4th (13.98)
* Blocks per set: 4th (2.55)
* Service aces per set: 2nd (1.52)
* Digs per set: 7th (14.45)

Last Time Against Alabama

* The Gators swept Alabama the last time the two squads faced off on Oct. 31, 2020 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22)
* UF’s blocking game was the deciding factor in the victory, with the team recording 19.5 blocks on the afternoon. That number is the highest total in a three-set match in program history and is the ninth best total overall in the rally-scoring era
* Lauren Dooley led the way with 10.0 blocks, just two shy of her career-best. That mark is the fifth-best total in a three-set match in the rally-scoring era. Marlie Monserez and Nnedi Okammor each posted a career-high nine blocks in the match as well
* UF stifled Alabama’s offensive game overall, holding the Crimson Tide to a .095 clip on the night
* T’ara Ceasar led the team offensively, posting 15 kills and a .344 clip on the afternoon. Thayer Hall also recorded double-digit kills, finishing with 11
* Marlie Monserez captained the Florida offense on Saturday afternoon, dishing out 28 assists
* Former Gator Paula Cerame led the defense in the backcourt, posting a season-high 12 digs. Elli McKissock and Monserez each pitched in eight digs on the afternoon, while Ceasar added seven
No. 23 Florida at Alabama Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Oct. 20 | 8 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ESPNU
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D4bf5a80f-2D81aa-2D4839-2D82e1-2D83064c4542cd&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=AYUtyfIvIwhvEffLEiN49_h5DhK5AaOJnuC8ncQXqQs&s=st1mUshMMChdROTmBAEDZMyu5EmxGq5M-LzIMmJYLzw&e= >Live Stats: Statbroadcast<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D359742&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=AYUtyfIvIwhvEffLEiN49_h5DhK5AaOJnuC8ncQXqQs&s=4wzupnNctIZR7hHXhBkXYJcHprxNJHoWbTQnwYlo–Y&e= >
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>