The Gators can take another step toward their 21st Southeastern Conference title tonight.
No. 5 Florida will play No. 7 Missouri at home at 7 with conference-title stakes on the line. Despite already facing teams such as Penn State and Stanford — two of the top programs in the country — earlier this season, a matchup with the undefeated Tigers could be the Gators’ (23-2, 12-1 SEC) biggest challenge.
“Friday night, it’s going to take the whole kitchen sink (to win),” coach Mary Wise said after Wednesday’s three-set victory against South Carolina. “This Missouri team is as talented a team that we’ve faced in the O’Connell Center in years.”
Not surprisingly, the Tigers (29-0. 13-0 SEC) currently lead the conference with two weeks remaining in the regular season. A win tonight would put Missouri on the brink of its first SEC title.
However, the Gators can put themselves in equally strong position with a victory.
If Florida wins the match in three sets, it will own the tiebreaker with Missouri and win the conference title outright barring any losses the rest of the season.
A win in four sets would cause the tiebreaker to come down to the points scored in tonight’s match and the Tiger’s four-set victory against the Gators on Oct. 20.
Wise and her team are in for a challenge — starting with Tigers setter Molly Kreklow, who is second in the nation in assists per set with 12.7. Kreklow was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2012 behind Florida senior setter Taylor Brauneis.
“It all starts with their setter,” Wise said. “[Kreklow] is one of the best setters in the country, and that offense goes through her and is elite.”
Florida has had one of the top attacks in the nation but will be tested by Missouri.
The Tigers are first in the nation in assists per set (14.6), kills per set (15.3) and hitting percentage (.360). Missouri, which is one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the nation, also has Whitney Little, whose .493 hitting percentage is second in the nation behind Florida’s Chloe Mann.
“They’re a great team” Mackenzie Dagostino said. “But we are too, and if we play our best, we’ll be fine.”
Follow RJ Schaffer on Twitter @rjschaffer.
