Coach Mary Wise’s central theme this season has been the Gators’ potential for growth.
And so far, No. 10 Florida has grown.
Through nine matches, freshman Rhamat Alhassan leads the Southeastern Conference in hitting percentage (.510), second-year transfer Mackenzie Dagostino is second in service aces (0.46/set) and third in assists (11.06/set), and sophomore Alex Holston is eighth in kills (3.31/set).
Holly Pole and Simone Antwi also reside in the top 15 of the SEC’s statistical categories for digs and kills, respectively.
After defeating UCF in four sets on Sunday, the UF squad feels like it’s in good standing.
"Looking at the first segment of our 2014 schedule, to be 6-3 after the quality of opponents we’ve played, we’re real pleased where we are," coach Mary Wise said.
Florida will begin conference play on Friday, where it will match up against Auburn in the first of two meetings with the Tigers.
"Now, going into the SEC schedule, now we’re all 0-0… what we’ve talked to the team about is how can we improve from the end of September to the end of November." Wise said. "But the improvement our team has made over the past month … I think it shows the resiliency of this group."
But as resilient as this Florida team appears to be, it still must improve drastically in one area.
The Gators lead all teams also ranked in the top-10 in service errors with 115. In fact, if No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Texas, No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 FSU and No. 8 Nebraska each amassed 39 service errors against their next opponent, Florida would still lead all of them.
Most of that is the result of elite level volleyball, but the trend should at the very least be an area of concern for Florida, especially if it views itself on the same echelon as the other top-10 teams.
"Nothing bad usually happens if you hit the ball hard, and we like the arm speed. That’s a good thing," Wise said. "You’re gonna get some errors, just like jump serving."
Florida’s serving philosophy is simple: It lives by it, and it dies by it.
"We’re definitely an aggressive serving team, and (errors) are always going to happen when you serve aggressive," sophomore Alex Holston said after UF’s 3-2 loss to FSU, in which Florida recorded 20 service errors.
Holston has one of the strongest arms in the SEC, and isn’t timid at the service line. As a result, she has played exceptionally well this season, and leads UF with 116 kills.
She also leads the team with 25 service errors.
Florida views the benefits of its serving style as far outweighing its disadvantages. And for the most part this season, they have.
The Gators have just two losses in four matches against teams ranked in the top-15, and they defeated then-No. 15 San Diego and then-No. 6 USC on the road.
Still, the common denominator in each of UF’s three losses has been service errors – it owns a 47-33 advantage in that category.
If there is a flaw to be found in Florida’s mostly positive start to the 2014 campaign, it has been its service errors. But until the errors start to have a major affect on Florida’s record – which so far they haven’t – don’t expect Wise and the Gators to make many adjustments.
"You’ve got to live with the errors," Wise said. "Because when you bring the heat, some good things happen."
Follow Ian Cohen on Twitter @IBcohen5
UF coach Mary Wise calls out a play during Florida's 3-2 win against Oklahoma on Aug. 30 in the O'Connell Center.
