TUSCALOOSA, AL. – The No. 21-ranked Florida volleyball team swept the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday night inside Alabama’s Foster Auditorium. The Gators improve to 16-7, 8-6 SEC, while Alabama moves to 10-16, 0-15 SEC.
In three tightly-contested sets, Florida took the first frame in a 25-23 battle. The Gators followed with a 25-20 victory in the second set to take a 2-0 match lead, and closed out the match with a 25-22 win the final frame to secure their perfect 53-0 record (51-0 under Mary Wise) in the all-time series against the Crimson Tide.
Two Gators finished in double-digits, as freshman Kennedy Martin led the way with 18 kills, followed by AC Fitzpatrick’s 17 kills and a .517 clip. Sofia Victoria also had six kills of her own.
Kennedy Muff dished out 38 assists in the three-setter, leading the team to a .212 clip. Elli McKissock and Trinity Adams each added two helpers of their own in the win.
Florida tallied eight team blocks, holding Alabama to a .134 clip (28-15-97). Gabbi Essix led the way with a six-block performance, while four other Gators recorded two.
Elli McKissock finished with 15 digs to officially rank second overall in program history with 1,562 career digs. Emily Canaan pitched in 11 of her own, while Muff (9) and Martin (8) had a combined 17.
Behind the service line, Martin recorded two aces, while Adams, Muff, and Victoria all had one.
The Gators remain on the road, heading to Columbia, Missouri on Friday to face the Missouri Tigers. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center.
Records
No. 21 Florida (16-7, 8-6 SEC)
Alabama (10-16, 0-15 SEC)
How It Happened
- There were 12 ties and four lead changes in the first set. Alabama took an early 10-6 lead and forced Florida to use its first timeout. Out of the break, the Gators exploded with an 8-0 scoring run behind Trinity Adam’s serve to take a 17-15 lead. Alabama responded, scoring three-straight points, but a service error tied it up at 18. Once again Florida pulled to a 22-20 advantage, but the Crimson Tide tied it back up and Florida would use its final timeout. With the race to 25 inching closer, the Gators took the next two points, and a kill from Martin closed out the first frame with a 25-23 win.
- Kennedy martin led the offensive attack with seven kills in the first frame
- Florida went on a 5-0 scoring run to grab an early 6-2 lead at the start of the second set. Alabama would go on a 3-0 scoring run, but a kill from AC…
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