Florida hits .314 in the match to move to 11-2 in the SEC
Box Score<https://floridagators.com/documents/2022/11/4/UF-Mizzou_Box.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 12th-ranked Florida volleyball team downed the Missouri Tigers in straight sets on Friday night in Exactech Arena to remain atop the SEC standings.
With the victory, the Gators improve to 19-4 on the year and 11-2 in conference play, while the Tigers fall to 8-14 overall and 1-11 in the SEC.
Florida started the match with a 25-22 win, then followed that with a come-from-behind 25-17 victory in the second frame. UF closed out the match with a tightly-contested 25-23 win in the third.
The Gators’ offensive attack was led by a 16-kill performance from Marina Markova, while Merritt Beason followed with 13 kills of her own. Gabrielle Essix posted nine in the victory with a .667 clip, while Sofia Victoria (6) and Bre Kelley (5) combined for 11.
Rookie setter Alexis Stucky led the team to a .314 clip on the night, dishing out 46 assists – a three-set high for the Laramie, Wy. native.
Florida’s defense held Missouri to just a .144 hitting efficiency in the match, tallying 10.0 blocks in the three-setter. Essix posted a team-high five at the net, followed by three apiece from Beason and Kelley.
Elli McKissock paced the backcourt for the Gators, coming up with 11 digs on the night. Trinity Adams pitched in a 10-dig effort, while Beason and Stucky each recorded five in the win.
The Gators return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 when the team travels to College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M. First serve against the Aggies is slated for 5 p.m. ET on SEC +.
Records
No. 12 Florida (19-4, 11-2 SEC)
Missouri (8-14, 1-11 SEC)
How It Happened
* With Florida holding the slight 4-3 lead in the opening frame, the Gators sprung out to the 10-3 advantage after a 6-0 run behind the serves of Trinity Adams. UF held the Tigers at bay throughout the middle of the set, taking the eight-point lead at 15-7 to force the second Missouri timeout of the frame. The Tigers cut Florida’s lead to just one at 23-22 after a 3-0 run, but Florida secured the 25-22 victory to start the match.
* The Gators racked up 18 kills in the frame, hitting .308 in the process. Markova led the way with six kills and a .857 clip, followed by four from Essix, who hit .800 in the first set.
* The second set was a tight battle from the start, but it was Missouri that took the 15-13 lead into the media timeout. The Gators knotted the set at 16-all out of the break and Florida took its first lead since the 4-3 mark at 18-17 after a 2-0 run. Florida continued to build on that run, finishing off the set with a complete 9-0 spurt to win 25-17.
* The Gators hit a stellar .533 in the second set, led by six kills from Markova and four from Beason.
* The start of the third set looked similar to that of the second, with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage through the first half of the frame. The Tigers took the first three-point lead of the set at the 15-12 mark, but following the media timeout the Gators went on a 4-0 run to once again pull ahead. The momentum teetered back Missouri’s way after the Tigers pulled ahead 21-19 late, but Florida once again battled back to tie the frame at 21-all. The teams traded points at the end of the set, but the Gators secured the match with the 25-23 win.
* Beason led the way with six kills in the final frame, while Markova posted four.
Notables
* With her 16 kills, Marina Markova has now recorded double-digit kills in 17 matches this season
* With her 13 kills, Merritt Beason has now registered double-digit kills in 16 matches this season
* Florida improves to 12-5 in the all-time series against Missouri
* The Gators are now 7-1 in three-set matches against the Tigers
* UF is now 7-2 against Missouri in Gainesville, Fla.
* The Gators improve to 11-1 in three-set matches during the 2022 campaign
Thoughts from Coach Wise
* “It will say 3-0 in the box score, but that’s not reflective of how well Missouri came in here and played tonight.”
Up Next
* The Gators return to action on Saturday, Nov. 12 when the team travels to College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M
* First serve against the Aggies is slated for 5 p.m. ET on SEC +.
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.)
Season Ticket Prices:
* Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $75 [ages 13 & up]
* Kids Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $35 [ages 12 & under]
* General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $50 [ages 13 and up]
* Kids General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $25 [ages 12 & under]
* Courtside Season Pass (subject to availability) – $150 [all ages]
* Loge Seating (subject to availability) [in front of the Sideline Club] – $100 [all ages]
FOLLOW FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL
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>
