GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 15 Florida volleyball team opened its season on a high note Friday, defeating the North Florida Ospreys in four sets in Exactech Arena.
North Florida clinched the first set, 25-20, but the Gators answered with a come-from-behind 25-23 victory in the second frame. The third and fourth sets belonged to Florida, with UF claiming 25-15 and 25-13 wins to secure 1-0 start to the season.
With this victory, Florida has now won 30 season openers, including six-straight.
UF racked up 56 kills in the four-setter, with Marina Markova posting a team-high 16 in her Gator debut. Merritt Beason added 12 kills of her own, followed by 11 from Bre Kelley.
Gabrielle Essix posted a career-high nine kills in the match, while Sofia Victoria rounded out the scorers with five kills of her own.
Three Gators recorded over a .300 hitting percentage, with Kelley leading the way on a .688 clip (11-0-16). Markova finished with a 16-2-32 line for a .438 hitting percentage and Essix posted a .533 clip, finishing with nine kills on 15 swings with one error.
Alexis Stucky posted 36 assists in her first collegiate match, while Birdie Hendrickson added 10 assists of her own in the season opener.
The Gators kept the Ospreys to below a .200 hitting percentage on the night (.195), racking up 6.0 total blocks. Essix led the defensive effort at the net, recording three blocks, while Kelley, Beason, Markova and Stucky each added two in the victory.
Elli McKissock controlled the backcourt defense in the libero jersey, tallying 12 digs in the four-setter. Trinity Adams added a…
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