Six hundred eighty days.
That’s how long Florida’s volleyball team went without losing to a Southeastern Conference opponent before stepping into the O’Connell Center on Sunday.
The defending SEC champions were pummeled by Kentucky, 3-1, snapping a 23-game win streak against conference foes that dated back to Nov. 15, 2013.
While the loss was unfamiliar territory for the Gators, coach Mary Wise said it may have been a good thing for her team.
"You learn so much more from a loss than a win," she said. "Sometimes winning disguises the weaknesses we knew."
Though UF entered the contest ranked fifth in the nation, its flaws were exposed and exploited by the Wildcats.
Senior outside hitter Ziva Recek is playing for the Slovenia national team in Europe, and sophomore outside hitter Carli Snyder is still returning to form following an ankle injury.
Junior right side hitter Alex Holston isn’t producing the offensive numbers she did last year, granted she’s been asked to play a different role this year.
"We’re not asking her to do the same thing," Wise said. "Alex’s game in terms of what she’s giving us serving, blocking and defense…she is a more all around player (and) a better player today than she was a year ago."
But Wise has still been challenged when deciding the lineup and changing game strategy.
"We’re still dealing with readdressing our lineup," she said. "I mean the reality is that we haven’t been with the full lineup since the second weekend and that’s just a fact."
With her lineup in flux of late, Wise acknowledged that the strength of the Gators’ offense lies in its middle blockers: Rhamat Alhassan and Simone Antwi.
"We are at our best when we can get offensive production out of our middles," Wise said. "Our first contact be that off serve-receive or in transition did not allow us to do that yesterday."
That was one weakness Wise said was revealed — Florida’s serve-pass game.
Without accurate passes off the opponent’s serve, senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino couldn’t give UF’s outside hitters and middle blockers good sets.
"Mackenzie Dagostino was at such a disadvantage when she was having to chase balls down and us not give her as good of an opportunity to set her hitters," Wise said.
Dagostino echoed the same thoughts after the game but said she could’ve tossed up some better sets.
"We didn’t pass as well as we usually do, and that made it difficult to run an offense," Dagostino said. "I have to do my part to make sure I’m putting up the most killable sets for my hitters."
The Gators (9-2, 1-1 SEC) won’t have much time to work on their shortcomings, as they take on Missouri (12-1) in Columbia on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
One Tiger that presents a threat to Florida is junior outside hitter Carly Kan. The 5-9 Honolulu native’s 4.70 kills per set ranks ninth best in the nation.
"I had the privilege of coaching with Carly Kan on the world university games," Wise said. "For a player of her stature she’s not gonna win the height battle, but man does she win the heart battle."
The good news for the Gators as they go up against Kan and the Tigers is that Florida swept Missouri a year ago in their only matchup of the season.
Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter @Pinakk12
UF right-side hitter Alex Holston (3) celebrates during Florida's 3-0 win against St. John's on Sept. 17, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.
