Florida faces the Tigers on Friday night with first serve at 7 p.m.
Match notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/11/9/22_LSU.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 21 Florida volleyball team closes out its three-game home series, hosting LSU on Friday night inside the Exactech Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. on BIG+, with Missy Whittemore and Tom Collett on the call, and can be heard on ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850.
Florida is coming off a four-set loss to No. 13 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon, while LSU completed the comeback win in four sets against Alabama.
The Gators hold a 54-14 record against the LSU Tigers, including a 48-6 record under Mary Wise and a 25-5 advantage in Gainesville, Fla.
Last Time Against LSU (2022)
W, 3-2 | 25-18, 26-24, 25-27, 21-25, 15-9
* The Gators were led on the offensive attack by Merritt Beason, who posted a 21-kill performance on the afternoon – tying her career-best. Sofia Victoria added 16 of her own in the five-set match, followed by 14 kills from Marina Markova. Gabrielle Essix posted a career-high 12 kills in the victory to round out the Gators in double-digit kills.
* Alexis Stucky anchored the Florida offense, dishing out a career-high 56 assists, along with a career-best 16 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
* The Gators held the Tigers to a .168 hitting efficiency, tallying 16.0 blocks at the net. Essix posted a team-high and a career high 10 blocks to lead the way, followed by a career-best eight from Beason. Nnedi Okammor and Markova also registered four blocks in the victory.
* Florida’s backcourt defense was led by a 20-dig effort from Elli McKissock and Stucky followed with a career-high 16 digs of her own. Emily Canaan added 10, while Beason (9) and Victoria (8) combined for 17 digs in the five-set win.
* Canaan and Stucky each posted a team-high two service aces in the match, followed by one apiece from Alexis Stucky and Bre Kelley.
Gators in the SEC
* Through the season thus far, Florida has at least one player ranked in the following categories:
* Kennedy Martin: Kills per set (1st | 4.21) Points per set: (2nd | 5.01)
* Anna Dixon: Hitting percentage (4th | .363)
* Kennedy Muff: Assists per set (6th | 9.78)
* Nnedi Okammor: Blocks per set (7th | 1.17)
* Gabbi Essix: Blocks per set (8th | 1.17)
* Elli McKissock: Digs per set (8th | 3.74)
* Through the season thus far, Florida is ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in the following categories:
* Blocks per set: (2nd | 2.53)
* Hitting percentage: (4th | .266)
* Assists per set: (5th | 12.26)
* Kills per set: (5th | 13.12)
* Service aces per set: (5th |1.57)
Mighty Martin
* Freshman Kennedy Martin has recorded 10 or more kills in every match this season.
* Leads the team in double-doubles with five
* Martin has recorded the most kills from any freshman after 21 matches in Florida history with 354. Ziva Reck currently holds the top-spot for most kills in a freshman season with 440, set in 2012.
* 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. 21 nationally in kills per set, and is No. 1 in the SEC (4.21)
* Ranks No. 18 in points per set, and is ranked No. 2 in the SEC (5.01)
* Her 341 kills lead the team this season as well as leads Florida in points per set with a 5.01 average. Martin is ranked No. 1 in the league in kills per set and is second in points per set, behind Georgia’s senior Sophie Fischer.
* 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
No. 20 Florida vs. LSU Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Nov. 10 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/654d23bd-2b04-4fd6-af34-e44d8b61771a> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=477663> | Radio: 98.1FM/850AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> | Tickets: FloridaGators<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/ism/VkIyMzA5>
Series Information – No. 20 Florida vs. LSU
Tigers | 2023 season: 10-12, 5-7 SEC
* This is the 66th meeting between the Gators and the Tigers
* Florida leads 51-14 (48-6 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 29-7 | 4-set: 17-7 | 5-set: 5-0
* Home: 25-5 | Away: 21-7 | Neutral: 3-2
* Last Time Out: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-2 (25-18, 26-24, 25-27,21-25,15-9)
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