No. 12 Florida Volleyball Escapes Upset Scare at USF
Last year, Florida failed to defeat the University of South Florida in the Gators’ home opener, losing in five sets. This year, the Gators aced their early-season road test, both figuratively and literally, against that same Bulls squad on Tuesday night.
The No. 12 Florida Gators (3-1) continued their winning ways with a four-set rout (25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24) of the USF Bulls (0-3) in Tampa. The victory is the third consecutive for Florida, riding high after a four-spot climb in the latest AVCA Division 1 Poll.
The Gators started the match strong, getting out to a 17-12 lead and extending the margin to secure the first set. The Gators nearly doubled USF’s .237 hitting percentage in the set with a .464% mark of their own. The smooth sailing would not last long for Florida.
The Bulls adjusted well in set two, sporting a pair of four-point streaks to establish a 16-7 lead. The foot remained on the gas, leveling the match at one set a piece. USF capitalized on Florida’s significant inaccuracy, hitting only .094% in the second set loss.
The intensity ramped up in the third set, with both teams trading scoring runs back and forth. It wasn’t until yet another four-point run when UF found breathing room at 17-14. The Gators limited mistakes from that point on and closed out set three.
Staring down defeat, South Florida came into set four firing on all cylinders. The Bulls stopped an early Florida lead with an 8-2 scoring run of their own, cementing a 17-10 advantage. Despite the deficit, the Gators remained hard-pressed to make the two-hour drive back to Gainesville with a win. Florida narrowed the gap after a series of three service aces from defensive specialist Ella Vogel. With the fourth set tied at 24, opposite hitter Milica Vidacic won the set and match for Florida with the team’s ninth and final ace of the night.
ACED THIS MATCH ♠️ pic.twitter.com/HICd8nuP3E
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 3, 2025
USF senior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade was crucial to the Bulls’ valiant effort. The 2024 AAC Player of the Year led the match with 23 kills, hammering away at Florida’s blocking front.
For the Gators, redshirt freshman Ella Vogel contributed a career-high five aces. The Gators offense ran through birthday girl Aniya Madkin, who added her most kills since joining Florida with ten. Head Coach Ryan Theis was quite enthused when asked about Madkin’s strong performance.
“We have five attackers and we know, fans know, that Kira can only take so many reps, but she is so valuable to us in so many ways. We need points out of the middle and we need points out of two of the three pins and Aniya has the ability to score without question.” -Head Coach Ryan Theis
Despite the inconsistency, Florida can take away many positives from the rollercoaster I-75 tilt. The Gators served much better in the match, one of the first-year head coach’s focuses heading into the season. The comeback win displayed that Florida can’t be counted out of any match once they find their rhythm.
The Gators will have a chance to build on these pillars of the season when they head to Columbus for a road matchup with Ohio State on Sunday at noon.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Volleyball
