The No. 2 Gators (17-1, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) did more than collect their eighth and ninth consecutive sweeps last weekend.
They made a statement.
With three-set victories against No. 15 Kentucky on Friday and Georgia on Sunday, Florida proved it is the team to beat in the SEC.
“Friday night, a complete performance and great win,” coach Mary Wise said. “Just by the quirkiness of the schedule, that’s the only time we play Georgia, and to finish that with a 3-0 win, (I) couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Florida is doing more than simply sweeping matches; it is suffocating opponents offensively and defensively.
The Gators neutralized the Wildcats’ star player, Whitney Billings, and held the team to a hitting percentage of .188. Florida hit .372.
UF was even more dominant against Georgia.
The Bulldogs scored more than 15 points in only the third set and hit .032 on the match.
Three UGA players hit a negative percentage due to errors.
One of the biggest questions going into the season was how Wise would replace Tangerine Wiggs, who was third on the team in both hitting percentage and kills last year.
Sophomore middle blocker Simone Antwi and freshman right-side hitter Alex Holston have combined to provide the answer.
“Alex has the advantage on the right-side of being left-handed,” Wise said. “In that position, there are balls that she’s getting that would be very difficult for a right-handed hitter, especially the out of system balls, to be able to kill.
“In Simone’s case, she’s a prototype in terms of what has happened here. For Simone, [sitting behind good players] was her first two years here at Florida. When your turn comes, take full advantage of it, and she’s definitely doing that.”
The Gators have the luxury of multiple players who can get double-digit kills — they had four players in double figures Friday — putting them second in the nation in hitting percentage at .351.
Florida travels to Missouri on Sunday to face the Tigers, who boast the nation’s best hitting percentage of .378.
Follow RJ Schaffer on Twitter @rjschaffer.
Sophomore middle blocker Simone Antwi (16) jumps to block the ball during Florida’s three-set win against Iona on Sept. 14 in the O’Connell Center.
