Tonight’s matchup against South Carolina is a perfect opportunity for Taylor Unroe to showcase her talents.
Although she can use scout teams to get ready for the Gamecocks’ offensive style, the sophomore libero will have to wait until she gets to Columbia, S.C., before she can really prepare for one of the most difficult venues the Gators will visit in Southeastern Conference play this season — the Volleyball Competition Facility.
“It’s a low ceiling, there’s not any room to play balls off the court and so the ball control will be a premier,” coach Mary Wise said. “Fortunately for us, our libero is playing some of her best volleyball now.”
So far in SEC play, Unroe has accounted for 36 percent of UF’s digs while also recording 10 assists and two aces.
Like Wise, Unroe is confident in her ability as No. 12 Florida (9-2, 3-0 SEC) faces South Carolina (13-2, 2-2 SEC) on the road tonight at 7 p.m.
The Gamecocks, who play in a much smaller venue than other SEC teams, are undefeated at home this season.
Unroe believes her improvements from last year will help her in an unfriendly environment.
“My personal serve-receive passing has improved a lot,” Unroe said. “With my overall game, I feel like I’ve grown as a college player, and I feel like the whole team has grown from last year to this year.”
Out of 192 serves Unroe has received this season, she allowed only one to hit the floor — a team-high 99.5 percent efficiency rate. The sophomore has also excelled in preventing kills, which is expected to be a valuable skill against arguably the toughest hitter she will face this season.
South Carolina’s Juliette Thevenin currently ranks second in the SEC with 4.31 kills per set and third with 4.73 points per set.
“One of their best players, [Thevenin], she’s really good, she’s a really high-IQ player,” Unroe said. “The whole team is very high IQ, and they’re a hard working team, so it makes us feel like if we work hard, only the best can come of it. That’s all we can ever do is go against a team and work hard and hope for the best.”
Thevenin presents a challenge for the UF defense, but Unroe is a formidable counter.
Unroe ranks fourth in the SEC with 4.47 digs per set. She finished last season averaging 3.69 digs per set.
Unroe has posted those totals despite Florida’s high- powered offense, which ends points quickly and rarely gives her the opportunity to touch the ball. The Gators lead the SEC with a .318 hitting clip.
South Carolina is close behind Florida. The Gamecocks rank third with a .287 hitting percentage and 753 kills, averaging 14.21 per set.
Despite UF’s success with attacking, Wise knows having Unroe on the court will only increase Florida’s chance to win.
“We’ll have our work cut out for us in a big way on Friday night,” Wise said. “(But) when Taylor Unroe is touching the first ball, good things happen, and we’ll really need that to happen both Friday and Sunday.”
Contact Katie Agostin at kagostin@alligator.org.
Florida libero Taylor Unroe (5) serves during Florida’s 3-0 win against Missouri on Sept. 21 in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Unroe's 18 digs against Alabama on Friday her second-highest total in a three-set match.
