The Gators continued their solid start to the 2013 season Thursday.
No. 8 Florida defeated Texas-San Antonio in three straight sets, 25–18, 25–17, 25–20, for its fourth straight win to open 2013.
UF got off to a slow start in each set but got going in the latter half of each to close out the Roadrunners for the sweep.
“Well, I think this win will become more significant as the season goes on,” coach Mary Wise said.
“I really think this UT-SA team is — as well-coached as they are and talented as they are — I think they’ve got a chance to really have a great year.”
It could have been easy for the Gators to overlook an unheralded UT-SA with matches against the top two teams in the nation, Penn State and Stanford, looming this weekend.
But Florida was not caught napping.
Senior setter Taylor Brauneis led the way with 36 assists, 11 digs and a hitting percentage of .667.
Taylor Unroe was instrumental in keeping alive the long points that Florida won. The junior libero had a team high 17 digs in the match.
“Seventeen digs in three sets is getting it done,” Wise said.
“[Unroe] did serve well. She had two service errors, but it’s a high-risk high-reward. We can live with them.”
Another standout for the Gators was sophomore outside hitter Gabby Mallette, who tied for second on the team with nine kills.
“Really happy with the play of Gabby Mallette,” Wise said. +“She struggled last weekend offensively and has put a lot of work into practices, in terms of using her high-contact point and swinging and making contact up there. She’s really high; she was hitting over people today.”
Freshman right-side hitter Alex Holston continues the hot start to her college career after setting a new career high with nine kills. Holston set the record for highest hitting percentage for a freshman in an opening weekend for Florida on Aug. 30 and 31.
After the game, Wise stressed the need for the setters to begin relying on Holston and take some of the burden off of senior middle blocker Chloe Mann, who attempted 22 attacks Thursday.
The match against UT-SA is the Gators’ last before entering the Nike Big Four Classic, which starts with a match against No. 2 Stanford Saturday at 4 p.m.
In what was the Gators’ last chance to prepare for two of the nation’s toughest teams, Wise believes UF took full advantage.
“We learned more about ourselves today then playing at home last weekend,” Wise said. “So, the Gators got better today.”
Follow RJ Schaffer on Twitter @rjschaffer.
Taylor Brauneis reaches for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. Brauneis had 36 assists against UT-SA on Thursday.
