GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 Florida volleyball team defeated the Florida State Seminoles in straight sets in the Sunshine Showdown Presented by Fresh From Florida on Tuesday night in Exactech Arena.
With the win, Florida moves to 7-2 on the year and has won four-straight matches.
The Gators came back from a deficit in the first frame to claim it 25-19 and then followed with an extra-points victory (29-27) in the second set to pull ahead 2-0 in the match. Florida once again came from behind in the third set, closing out on a 5-0 run to win 25-22 and clinch the match.
Merritt Beason led the offense attack with 13 kills and a .400 clip, while Marina Markova followed closely behind with 12 kills and a .400 hitting efficiency of her own.
Gabrielle Essix added nine kills on 15 swings (.467) in the victory, while Sofia Victoria (8) and Bre Kelley (6) rounded out the Gator scorers.
Alexis Stucky dished out 41 assists in the match, a three-set best for the freshman, while leading the Gators to a .345 clip.
At the net, Florida registered nine blocks, led by five from Essix. Stucky, Kelley and Beason each posted three in the sweep.
Elli McKissock paced the backcourt defense with a 16-dig performance, moving her to 22nd-place in program history with 924 career digs. Emily Canaan and Beason each tallied seven digs in the match, followed by six from Stucky.
McKissock also led the way behind the service line, picking up two aces, while Trinity Adams and Canaan each pitched in one.
The Gators are back in action on Friday against No. 4 Wisconsin in Madison, Wisc. at the Kohl Center. First serve is slated for…
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