Gators-Wildcats Set for Top-20 Matchup
Florida and Kentucky each sit atop the SEC standings at 12-2 with four matches left to play
Match Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 10 Florida volleyball team (20-4, 12-2 SEC) welcomes the 18th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (17-6, 12-2 SEC) to Exactech Arena this weekend with big implications in the SEC title run.
With both teams tied atop the conference standings, the two-match series beginning on Saturday is pivotal.
Saturday’s match is set for a 4 p.m. start on SEC Network + with Tom Collett and Josh Crow on the call. First serve for Sunday’s match is slated for 2 p.m. on the SEC Network, with Courtney Lyle and Missy Whittemore on the call.
Florida is coming off a four-set victory over Texas A&M on Nov. 12, while the Wildcats topped the Tennessee Lady Vols in four sets on Wednesday evening.
The Gators hold the 52-19 series advantage over Kentucky, including a 50-12 record under Mary Wise.
What’s at Stake
* The Gators and the Wildcats enter the weekend each with a 12-2 conference record, tied at the top of the SEC standings with four matches left to play
* With a series sweep, either Florida or Kentucky will clinch at least a share of the 2022 SEC Championship
* If the teams split the series, it will come down to the last weekend of play, with Florida traveling to Ole Miss and Kentucky hosting the South Carolina Gamecocks
Senior Day
* Sunday’s match will serve as Senior Day for Florida’s two seniors – Marina Markova and Rhett Robinson
* Arrive early to honor these two seniors!
Promotions
* Saturday – #WearOrange
* Giveaway: Orange Light Up Wristbands
* Giveaway: Team Schedule Posters
* Giveaway: Team Autograph Cards
* Be sure to download the Florida Gators mobile app prior to the match to participate in the Gator Lights Show between sets 1 & 2
* Ticket deal: Receive a free general admission ticket to the match with a donation to the food drive at the ticket window
* No post-match autographs following Saturday’s match
* Sunday – Senior Day
* Arrive early to honor Florida’s two seniors
* Giveaway: Team Schedule Poster
* Giveaway: Team Autograph Cards
* Redeem for prizes post-match!
* Be sure to download the Florida Gators mobile app prior to the match to participate in the Gator Lights Show between sets 1 & 2
* Ticket deal: Receive a free general admission ticket to the match with a donation to the food drive at the ticket window
* Post-match autographs will take place following Sunday’s match
Last Time Out
* In its last contest, the then-No. 11 Florida volleyball team defeated the Texas A&M Aggies in four sets (25-18, 25-16, 16-25, 25-20) to remain in sole possession of first place in the SEC
* Merritt Beason led the offensive attack on Saturday evening, finishing with a 15-kill performance. Sofia Victoria followed with 13 kills and a .435 clip of her own, while Texas native Bre Kelley pitched in eight in the victory
* Freshman setter Alexis Stucky dished out 40 assists in the match, leading the team to a .241 clip on the evening
* As a team, the Gators held the Aggies to just a .115 hitting efficiency in the match – the 11th opponent Florida has kept below a .150 clip this season
* UF tallied 13.0 blocks in the four-setter, with Kelley registering a team-high seven blocks. Beason and Victoria each added four blocks apiece in the win, while Gabrielle Essix and Stucky posted three blocks apiece
* In the backcourt, Elli McKissock led the way for Florida, finishing with 15 digs in the four-setter. Emily Canaan added nine of her own in her home state, while Trinity Adams pitched in seven digs on the evening
* Behind the service line, Beason tied her career-high with four aces, followed by one apiece from Adams and McKissock
Last Time Against Kentucky
* The last time these two squads faced off, the Gators fell in straight sets in Lexington, Ky. (18-25, 20-25, 23-25)
* Sofia Victoria led Florida’s offensive attack on the afternoon, while Gator alumna Thayer Hall followed with eight kills of her own. Merritt Beason posted seven, while middle blockers Lauren Forte and Bre Kelley each recorded six apiece
* Former Gator Marlie Monserez registered 30 assists in the match, to go along with 11 digs and four kills • At the net, the Gators recorded 6.0 blocks, led by a team-high four from Beason and Kelley
* Florida’s backcourt defense was led by a 14-dig performance from Elli McKissock. Monserez pitched in 11 for her 10th double-double of the year, while Hall and Victoria added eight and five, respectively
Gators in the SEC
* As a team, the Gators are ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in four categories:
* Opponent hitting percentage (1st | .148)
* Blocks per set (1st | 2.80)
* Hitting percentage (2nd | .262)
* Aces per set (5th | 1.60)
* Individually, the following Gators rank in the Top-10 in different categories:
* Bre Kelley:
* Blocks per set (6th | 1.19)
* Merritt Beason
* Aces per set (2nd | 0.41)
* Points per set (7th | 4.38)
* Gabrielle Essix
* Blocks per set (5th | 1.22)
* Alexis Stucky
* Assists per set (2nd | 10.61)
* Elli McKissock
* Digs per set (7th | 3.70)
No. 10 Florida vs. No. 18 Kentucky Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Nov. 19 | 4 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC +<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=3d277d75-c2f3-4dce-996d-1c094b8bd858>
Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417381>
Radio: FloridaGators.com/watch<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=4975&type=Archive>
No. 10 Florida vs. No. 18 Kentucky Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Nov. 20 | 2 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: SEC Network<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=3d277d75-c2f3-4dce-996d-1c094b8bd858>
Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417381>
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 10 Florida vs. No. 18 Kentucky
Wildcats | 2022 season synopsis: 17-6, 12-2 SEC
* This is the 72nd meeting between the Gators and the Wildcats
* Florida leads 52-19 (50-12 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 36-10 | 4-set: 9-2 | 5-set: 7-7
* Home: 25-9 | Away: 23-9 | Neutral: 4-1
* Last Time Out: Nov. 27, 2021 | Lexington, Ky. | L, 0-3 (18-25, 20-25, 23-25)
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]
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