GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Florida volleyball team put up a valiant effort against the No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats, but fell in three sets on Sunday afternoon in Exactech Arena.
The Gators move to 21-5 on the year and 13-3 in the SEC, while the Wildcats improve to 18-7 overall and 13-3 in league play. Both teams are tied atop the standings with two matches left to play.
Prior to the match, the Florida honored Marina Markova and Rhett Robinson during a Senior Day ceremony.
Kentucky took the tightly-contested first set 25-23 and followed that with a 26-24 victory in the second. The Wildcats clinched the match with a 25-17 win in the final frame.
Florida’s offensive attack was led by a 12-kill performance from Merritt Beason. Marina Markova pitched in nine kills on the afternoon, followed by a seven-kill effort from Gabrielle Essix. Sofia Victoria rounded out the Florida scorers with six kills.
Alexis Stucky dished out 35 assists in the match, along with seven digs, four blocks, two kills and one ace.
At the net, the Gators recorded seven blocks, led by Stucky’s four. Bre Kelley and Essix each pitched in three blocks, followed by two from Beason.
Elli McKissock paced the defense for the Gators, recording 11 digs in the backcourt. Trinity Adams followed with nine, while Beason (8) and Stucky (7) combined for 15.
Florida finished the match with four aces, with Stucky, Adams, Beason and McKissock each tallying one.
The Gators close out the regular season with a series against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Miss. The two-match series is slated to begin on Nov. 25.
Records
No. 10 Florida (21-5, 13-3…
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