After its first three game conference losing streak in more than a quarter century, the UF volleyball team needed a big performance to get back on track.
Its best player delivered.
Rhamat Alhassan poured in a career-high 18 kills on .810 hitting to power the No. 17 Gators to a sweep of Texas A&M on Friday night at the O’Connell Center, 25-9, 25-23, 25-18.
The Gators (10-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) made quick work of the Aggies and looked like the dominant team they were early in the season when they notched victories over ranked opponents Texas and Oregon.
Florida torched TAMU (9-6, 2-2 SEC) from the start, opening the match with a 25-9 victory in the first set.
After a more closely contested second set which the Gators won 25-23, Florida crushed the Aggies 25-18 in the third to seal the victory.
The Gators got a much-needed shot in the arm when senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino, who suffered a concussion in Florida’s loss to Arkansas last Sunday, was cleared to play against the Aggies.
“I think we really came out tonight just saying: ‘you know what? Forget everything that has happened previously to this. It’s a new day, it’s a new match and we’re just going to come out and play as hard as the Gators can play’ and I think we did just that,” Dagostino said.
While Alhassan was the most dominant player on the court, this was far from an individual effort.
Senior right side hitter Alex Holston contributed 12 kills while sophomore outside hitter Carli
Snyder added six on the night. Dagostino amassed 43 assists and seven digs.
Efficiency was a key element of the Gators’ success throughout the match.
As a team, Florida hit .517, well above its .296 average on the season and only had six attack errors, a season low.
UF continues its conference schedule on Sunday at 3 PM in the O’Connell Center against Auburn.
Follow Brian Lee on Twitter @brianlee_17
UF middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan swings for a kill during Florida's 3-0 win against Texas A&M on Oct. 9, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.
