STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 14 Florida volleyball team fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in four sets on Friday night in the Newell-Grissom Building.
The Gators move to 12-4 on the season and 4-3 in the SEC, while the Bulldogs improve to 9-8 on the year and 2-5 in league play.
The opening frame belonged to Mississippi State, who took it 25-18. Florida responded with a 25-20 victory in the second to even the match at one apiece. The Bulldogs took the third set in extras, winning 27-25, then followed with a 25-21 victory in the fourth to secure the match.
Florida’s offensive attack was led by an 18-kill, .333 performance from Kennedy Martin, while AC Fitzpatrick followed closely behind with 17 kills of her own. Sofia Victoria and Nnedi Okammor each registered nine kills in the four-setter.
Graduate transfer setter Kennedy Muff dished out 48 assists in the match, while also adding five kills and four digs.
Fitzpatrick recorded three blocks at the net, followed by two apiece from Gabrielle Essix and Amaya Thomas.
Elli McKissock posted a team-high 16 digs in the backcourt to lead the way defensively for the Gators. Those 16 digs put her tied for third in program history. Emily Canaan, Martin and Trinity Adams recorded 11, 11 and 10 digs respectively on the night. The last time Florida had four players with at least 10 digs was Nov. 4, 2021 against Tennessee.
Behind the service line, Fitzpatrick led the way with her career-high six aces. Martin added two, while Adams and Muff each recorded one in the match.
The Gators are back in action next Friday against Texas A&M in Bryant-College Station, Texas….
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