Coach Mary Wise said blocking is typically a veteran strength. Freshman Gabby Mallette didn’t get the memo.
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter chalked up eight of the Gators’ 28 blocks this weekend, including six in No. 11 Florida’s comeback win against Kentucky on Sunday. Mallette, who leads all UF freshmen in blocks, has given her coach an unexpected defensive weapon.
“The blocking piece is something that’s usually more typical of a skill that comes around later in the development of a college player,” Wise said. “But Gabby is very physical above the net, and she plays high above the net. To be this good a blocker this early in her career, we think that Gabby has got a chance to be one of the best left-side blockers to have ever come through this program.”
The Orange Park product started to emerge as a key member of the Gators’ defense on Sept. 14, when Florida took on Arkansas to begin its Southeastern Conference schedule.
Mallette made her first career start and played all five sets against the Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Ark. She set new career highs across the board with 10 kills, 27 swings and three blocks. Less than a week earlier, against Georgia Tech on Sept. 8, she registered a -.375 hitting clip and zero kills or blocks.
“She’s one of those players, because of her athleticism and how hard she’s working, she’s just getting better and better as the season is going on,” Wise said.
In Mallette’s first seven matches, she never started and recorded only two blocks. In her last seven matches, she has started four times and totaled 21 blocks. Wise said Mallette impacted Sunday’s win, calling the blocking performance one of the major factors that kept the Gators in the game.
“She had [six] blocks and some at a really key time against one of the best right-side players we’ll play against,” Wise said. “The difference in the match, until our offense was on track, was the play at the net, especially by our blockers.”
The freshman outside hitter’s most important blocks against UK came in the fourth set, when UF was trying to tie the game at two sets. With Florida holding a slim lead, she teamed up with Betsy Smith for a stuff and then combined with Chloe Mann on another to help seal the victory.
Mallette said front-line defense is critical.
“The momentum from that and the energy that we get from that, it’s just one play that can take us as far as we can,” she said.
Wise said the freshman’s role is simple.
“‘Just hit and block, Gabby,’” Wise said. “‘That’s what we need you to do.’”
Freshman Gabby Mallette serves during Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Friday in the O’Connell Center. Mallette notched two blocks against the Razorbacks and leads Gators freshmen with 23 this season.
