Gators Volleyball Finds Rhythm, Outlasts Auburn in SEC Showdown
The Florida Gators volleyball team’s depth was on full display Friday in front of a packed O’Connell Center against the Auburn Tigers in winning 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-18, 27-25).
Gators coach Ryan Theis made some lineup changes looking for their second consecutive win. Milicia Vidacic got her first start of the season after a career high in kills against Alabama (18) in the previous SEC match. A change in the back row was Ella Vogel making her fourth start of the season.
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The Gators (7-5, ) set the tone in the first set by making 11 kills and were helped by seven Tigers service errors to take the set 25-18.
The second set was off to a 5-0 run by the Tigers, whose defense had the Gator out of rhythm. The Tigers (11-3) had five blocks in the set alone and held the Gators to a .03 hitting percentage, winning the set 25-17.
The third set was played out back-and-forth, until Gators setter Alexis Stucky score her sixth kill of the match and finished it with a career high (10) that gave the Gators that momentum switch. The Gators sealed the set win 25-18 with a kill by Aniya Madkin.
The Gators closed it out in the fourth, led by Stucky’s triple-double (10 kills, 12 digs, 42 assist).
Stucky expressed the importance of having the Gators fans support as a young team.
“Keep showing up, keep backing us,” Stucky said. “We’re only going to keep getting better and we’re going to peak at the right time.”
The Gators are back on the road to face the LSU Tigers (8-6) on Sunday 2 p.m. on SEC+.
Category: Gainesville, Gators Volleyball, NCAA, SEC, Volleyball
