The Florida volleyball team played its last match in the O’Connell Center on Saturday night.
It was arguably the most exciting match ever to be played in Gainesville.
No. 1 Florida (29-1, 20-0 Southeastern Conference) defeated Florida State in a breath-taking five-set match 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 17-15).
“This match lived up to its billing and I can’t say enough good things about how well Florida State played,” coach Mary Wise said. “I don’t think we’ve played a team all year that has passed as consistently as they did. We made some uncharacteristic unforced errors.”
The match between the rivals was one of ups and downs. There were eight ties in the first set, none in a close second set, four in the third set, 10 in the fourth set and eight in the fifth set.
“We know that to make a run in this tournament you got to be healthy, you got to have some pretty good talent and once in a while along the way you got to catch a break,” Wise said. “I think we caught a break tonight.”
Junior setter Kelly Murphy led the Gators with a triple-double. Murphy hit .385 on her way to recording a match-high 19 kills, 21 assists and 12 digs. She also had two blocks.
“It would have been pretty bittersweet to have our season end with a loss to Florida State,” Murphy said. “I just think that any second-round match with any team playing in their possible last match of the season is bound to be exciting.”
Things looked bleak for the Gators as they trailed in the fifth set by scores of 12-7, 14-13 and 15-14. However, the Gators battled to the end, shocking the Seminoles.
“We’ve been in high drama and second-round matches are some of the best in the tournament,” Wise said. “With very little preparation time from one match to the next you’re playing a team that’s just coming off a big win. Oh yea, and it’s Florida State and they played terrific.”
