The eighth ranked Florida volleyball team registered its second-best hitting efficiency of the season (.444) as Florida swept Tennessee in straight sets Sunday at Thompson-Bolling Arena in Knoxville behind 14 kills from sophomore right side Alex Holston and a 17 digs from senior libero Holly Pole in the back row to help set up UF’s stellar offense.
For the third straight match, the Orange and Blue (18-3, 12-0 SEC) limited its opposition to a single-digit set, Sunday by taking the first set over the Lady Vols 25-9.
Florida went on to win the second (25-13) and third (25-17) frames at Tennessee (8-17, 1-10 SEC) for its 10th sweep in SEC play. UF extended a season-long win streak to 13 matches, while limiting the Lady Vols to a .128 clip and just 21 kills in the match.
Florida has now won 18 straight sets dating back to October 15th.
Three Gator players hit above .500 in the match, including Holston (.520), freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (.530) and junior outside hitter Živa Recek, who hit a season-best .545. Three others registered a .300 hitting efficiency or better to aid UF’s best offensive efficiency in conference play.
Gator head coach Mary Wise credited her squad’s focus, regardless of the score, as a key to victory.
“Today we got better at staying focused throughout an entire match,” Wise said. “No matter what the score was. The players did a really good job following the game plan late in the match, as well as they did early on — starting with Holly’s play in the back row this afternoon.”
Tennessee’s .128 hitting efficiency against Florida Sunday marked UF’s 15th match this season holding its opponent under a .197 hitting efficiency, including 11 of 12 conference contests.
The Orange and Blue return to the friendly confines of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for a two-match home stand when Florida hosts Alabama (19-5, 7-3 SEC) November 7th at 7 p.m. UF leads the series 38-0, and 36-0 under Mary Wise.
The Auburn Tigers (10-12, 2-7 SEC) visit Gainesville on Wednesday, November 12th, for the second match-up between the two teams this season.
The Gators opened the SEC season on the road with Auburn on September 26th, a match the Gators swept 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-19). Florida leads the all-time series, 42-1, and are 38-0 under Mary Wise.
You can catch both matches on ESPN 850 WRUF.
For post-match comments from Mary Wise, click below:
Wise recaps the Tennessee match
Wise talks about the strong play of Alex Holston