Stucky Makes Season Debut in Friday Night Sweep

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16 Florida volleyball team swept North Texas 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-18) on Friday night inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Gators improve to 8-2 on the season and 4-1 in three-set matches.

SWEEP IN THE O’DOME 🧹#GoGators pic.twitter.com/KkkRgXNnUm

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 21, 2024

Gator fans rose to their feet at the start of the third set when Alexis Stucky checked in to the match. The redshirt sophomore made her return for the Orange and Blue after suffering a year-long ACL injury. The 2022 AVCA Southeast Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year went down against then No. 1 Wisconsin on Sept. 17, 2023 and would not return for the rest of the 2023 season.

She’s baaaaack 🗣️#GoGators pic.twitter.com/9eTDMO86qj

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 20, 2024

Stucky’s 14 assists combined with freshman Taylor Parks’ 22 guided Florida to a .352 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kennedy Martin led the Gators attack with 14 kills, while seven other Gators pitched in at least one: Isabel Martin (8), AC Fitzpatrick (7), Alec Rothe (6), Jaela Auguste (3), Lauren Harden (2), Amaya Thomas (2) and Stucky (1).

Florida held North Texas to 0.72 hitting percentage in the three setter, with Rothe having a team-high four block assists. In total the Gators totaled 6.0 team blocks.

Nine Gators added a dig to the stat sheet, with Elli McKissock and Isi Martin leading the backcourt with seven. K. Martin finished with six and Emily Canaan recorded four of her own. Fitzpatrick (3), Parks (3), Auguste (1), Stucky (1), and Rothe (1) totaled nine of Florida’s 33 digs.

The Martin duo both finished with two aces, while Emerson Hoyle and McKissock finished with one a piece.

Records

No. 16 Florida (8-2, 0-0 SEC)

North Texas (2-8, 0-0 AAC)

How It Happened

Set 1

• Florida fell to an early 2-7 deficit, but a kill from Auguste ended the Mean Green’s rally to bring K. Martin to the service line. The All-American dropped two aces and brought momentum back to the Gators side. Florida tied it up at 10, but the Mean Green inched back up to a 15-13 lead as the two teams went into the media break. Out of the huddle, North Texas continued to push and went into the final points ahead by three, 20-17. A side out followed by hard hits from Rothe and Fitzpatrick tied it back up at 20 and forced an opponent timeout. Following the break, kills from Kennedy and Fitzpatrick finally gave the Gators a 23-21 lead and an…