No. 4 Florida Volleyball Heads to Starkville With Outright SEC Title on Line
Coming off a four-set victory against Georgia last Sunday, No. 4 Florida volleyball heads to Starkville looking to turn its share of the SEC regular-season championship into an outright title with a win against Mississippi State.
“We’re not about trying to share the conference championship at this point,” UF coach Ryan Theis said. “We don’t want somebody else hanging a banner, so Friday we’re playing for a banner for just the Gators.”
Florida’s offense came alive against Georgia, led by outside hitter Kamryn Chaney and opposite hitter Logan King. Both players recorded 16 kills, while setter Taylor Parks directed the offense with 47 assists.
The Gators (21-2, 12-1 SEC) finished with a .333 hitting percentage and held advantages in kills and assists. Florida also controlled the net, recording 13 blocks compared to Georgia’s five.
King led the defensive effort with 13 digs and six blocks, earning her fourth double-double of the season. Parks also recorded a double-double with 12 digs to go along with her 47 assists.
King’s performance earned her SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors. The recognition highlights her impact on both sides of the court as Florida continues its push toward the postseason.
The Gators will take their eight-match winning streak on the road to face Mississippi State (17-7, 7-6).
Florida will need to maintain the offensive balance it showed against Georgia while continuing to create opportunities at the net Friday.
Chaney and King have provided a consistent scoring presence, while Parks’ ability to distribute the ball has allowed multiple Gators to contribute offensively. Florida’s defensive performance will also be important as it looks to keep Mississippi State from finding a rhythm.
With a share of the SEC championship already secured, the Gators have two final opportunities against Mississippi State on Friday and Alabama on Sunday, to take their 26th SEC regular-season title outright. A win in Starkville or Tuscaloosa would give Florida the outright regular-season title and add another accomplishment to an already successful season.
First serve is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday (SEC Network+) at the Newell-Grissom Building in Starkville.
The Gators will look to start a postseason run in the SEC tournament starting Nov. 20 in Savannah, Georgia.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Volleyball, SEC, Volleyball
