While Florida hasn’t run into any roadblocks on its path to a Southeastern Conference title, a contest against Kentucky away from home could be the detour the Gators have been trying to avoid.
No. 15 Kentucky (22-4, 11-2 SEC) is one of the few SEC teams this season to have both a dominant offense and defense.
In a match against Florida (20-3, 14-0 SEC), it’ll be a test of which teams plays the cleanest.
At the beginning of the season, Florida’s biggest weakness was attack and service errors. Against FSU on Sept. 4, UF finished the match with a loss and its most errors in a match for the season with 46.
After working to limit errors, Florida’s team has been more consistent in making clean serves and kills.
Florida is going into Kentucky with the mindset of just another game, but if the Wildcats get the win, it could jeopardize an almost perfect season.
"We’re looking at it as it is a match unto itself," coach Mary Wise said. "No matter what has happened before, what happens after it’s an opportunity to play a great team on their home court in front of what we know will be a terrific crowd, and these are the really fun ones when you know all eyes — in the country — will be on this match and we’re embracing the opportunity."
Florida’s biggest challenge in conference play so far was against Alabama, which boasts two of the best right side and opposite hitters in the SEC in Krystal Rivers and Kat Hutson.
Even against the two strongest hitters in the SEC, Florida showed no weakness.
Against Kentucky, Florida will have to utilize its defense better than it has all season — a component to the UF squad which Wise continues to applaud for its success.
"They’re (Holly Pole, Maddie Monserez and Taylor Unroe) playing like seniors…," Wise said on Oct. 26. "Any given night, it can be anyone of those three, and the special nights is when it’s all three."
Kentucky is second in the SEC with a .270 hitting clip, third in opponent hitting percentage (.191) and first in assists (13.11) and kills (14.35).
The Wildcats are the first truly balanced team the Gators have faced since their preconference schedule, which included four top-25 teams.
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UF coach Mary Wise talks to her team during a timeout in Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn.
