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Sophomore right side Alex Holston notched her first career double-double with a team-high 12 kills and a career-best 11 digs and junior outside hitter Gabby Mallette hit a season high .625 to lead the eighth ranked Florida volleyball team to its second sweep of Georgia this season (25-16, 25-8, 26-24) in a Wednesday night SEC clash at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.
Florida (17-3, 11-0 SEC) hit .400 as a team in the mid-week tilt with the Bulldogs (10-12, 2-8 SEC) to add its ninth SEC sweep on the season.
The Gators served up a staggering 11 service aces, their most this season, paced by three from Holston and senior libero Holly Pole.
The Orange and Blue posted nine blocks to the Dawgs’ one roof, as freshman Rhamat Alhassan led Florida with five, her 19th match leading the Gators in blocks this season.
Gator head coach Mary Wise credited Holston and Mallette for elevating the team to a higher level.
“You can look at a 3-0 score and not know just how much we learned from this match,” Wise said. “Alex (Holston) was so good for us in both her defense and her offense and was a real key to us tonight. Alex and Gabby (Mallette) came up with some key blocks there that were the difference in set three.”
After taking set one 25-16, UF limited UGA to just eight points in the second stanza, its second straight match limiting its opposition to a single-digit set, while posting a .714 clip in the set. But the Bulldogs came out aggressive in the third as Florida and Georgia went down to the wire in a 26-24 Gator decision in the final frame.
The Dawgs hit .141 against the Gators Wednesday, UF’s 14th match this season holding its opponent under a .197 hitting efficiency, including 10 conference contests.
Florida will now turn its sights to an afternoon tilt on the road Sunday at Tennessee (8-16, 1-9 SEC) in the first meeting between the Gators and Lady Vols this season. UF is 44-12 all-time against the Lady Vols, including 40-7 under Mary Wise.
First serve is set for noon on Sunday. You can catch the match on ESPN 850 WRUF.
For postgame comments from coach Wise, click below:
Wise on the play of Gabby Mallette
