Florida is set to take on No. 25 Auburn on Friday night, followed by a Sunday afternoon matchup against Alabama
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/10/2/14_Auburn.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The ninth-ranked Florida volleyball team (11-2, 3-1 SEC) plays host to two league matches this weekend, competing against No. 25 Auburn (12-3, 2-2 SEC) and Alabama (10-5, 0-4 SEC).
Florida’s first serve against Auburn is slated for Friday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network + and ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM with Tom Collett and Nick Cheronis on the call.
The Gators then return to action to face the Crimson Tide on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Exactech Arena. The match will also air on SEC + and ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM.
Florida is coming off a four-set victory at South Carolina last Sunday, while Auburn topped Georgia in four sets in its last contest. Alabama had a midweek match against Tennessee on Wednesday, where the Lady Vols defeated the Crimson Tide in straight sets.
The Gators hold the advantage in both series: 54-2 (50-1 under Wise) against Auburn; 51-0 (49-0 under Wise) against Alabama.
Promotions
* Friday:
* Celebrating the 2003 Florida volleyball team
* Giveaway: First 250 students in attendance will receive an ’03 tank top
* Giveaway: 2023 Schedule Magnets
* Post-match mingle on the court with the team
* Sunday:
* Sunday will serve as Florida’s Dig Pink match to support breast cancer awareness
* Giveaway: 500 Pink Headbands
* Giveaway: 2023 Schedule Magnets
* Post-match mingle on the court with the team
Block Party
* Following the first 13 matches, the Gators are averaging 2.63 blocks per set, putting them second in the conference. Three Florida players are ranked in the Top-10 of the conference: Nnedi Okammor (7th | 1.19), Kennedy Martin (10th | 1.07) and Anna Dixon (10th | 1.07)
* The Gators finished the 2022 season averaging 2.73 blocks per set, good for first in the conference and eighth in the nation
* In the 2021 season, the Gators averaged 2.63 blocks per set (19th in nation), in the 2020-21 season, the Gators averaged 2.75 blocks per set, putting the squad 12th in the nation. In 2019, Florida averaged 2.49 blocks per set; in 2018 UF averaged 2.82 blocks per set (11th in the nation); in 2017 the Gators averaged 2.93 blocks per set (ninth in the nation)
* In 10 out of the last 12 seasons, Florida has been among the top-3 in the conference in blocks per set
National Spotlight
* As a team, the Gators are ranked in the Top-35 in the nation in the following:
* Hitting percentage (34th | .263)
* Blocks per set (21st | 2.63)
* Kennedy Martin is ranked in the Top-50 nationally in the following:
* Points per set (30th | 4.73)
* Kills per set (47th | 3.87)
No. 9 Florida vs. No. 25 Auburn Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Oct. 6 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/42ae9e4d-d033-425f-b27c-925ce9c9aa81/redirected/true> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=477658> | Radio: 98.1FM/850AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> | Tickets: FloridaGators<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/ism/VkIyMzA4>
Series Information – No. 9 Florida vs. No. 25 Auburn
Tigers | 2023 season: 12-3, 2-2 SEC
* This is the 57th meeting between the Gators and the Tigers
* Florida leads 54-2 (50-1 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 40-0 | 4-set: 12-1 | 5-set: 3-1
* Home: 26-0 | Away: 26-2 | Neutral: 3-0
* Last Time Out: Sept. 23, 2023 | Auburn, Ala. | W, 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 24-26, 25-19, 17-15)
No. 9 Florida vs. Alabama Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Oct. 8 | 1 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8ebae6aa-4678-4080-97a3-76176483eb6f/redirected/true> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=477659> | Radio: 98.1FM/850AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> | Tickets: FloridaGators<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/ism/VkIyMzA5>
Series Information – No. 9 Florida vs. Alabama
Crimson Tide | 2023 season: 10-5, 0-4 SEC
* This is the 52nd meeting between the Gators and the Crimson Tide
* Florida leads 51-0 (49-0 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 47-0 | 4-set: 4-0 | 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 26-0 | Away: 22-0 | Neutral: 3-0
* Last Time Out: Sept. 21, 2022 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-17)
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