With the Gators up 18-6 in the second set against New Hampshire, Abby Detering walked to the back line to serve.
The lefty then delivered a bullet over the net — one that hit the forearms of New Hampshire’s libero Madison Lightfoot and sailed into the crowd — giving Florida an easy score.
The emphatic ace was the sixth straight point on what turned out to be an eight point service run for Detering and the Gators, breaking open the second set en route to Florida’s convincing 3-0 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.
These runs have become common for the sophomore setter, who routinely enters the game to serve for middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan.
“That match was really fun for me because I used to play against and with one of the girls on the team, so going back there I felt very comfortable,” Detering said.
Earlier this season, she compiled an impressive 14 point serving run in a match against Georgia, good enough for the team’s longest run of the year.
Against New Hampshire, the Gators’ efficient serving and serve receive were important factors that led to victory.
“We won the serve-pass game,” coach Mary Wise said.
While Detering had three aces, senior Mackenzie Dagostino added four.
The setters are averaged 0.28 and 0.29 aces per set in the regular season — second and first on the team, respectively.
“In practice we were really working on hand control, and just the speed of our serves, so when I went back there I knew I could give more power to the ball,” Dagostino said.
But while the thundering aces highlighted the match, Florida’s serve receive was also solid. The team committed just one receiving error all night.
While it may seem simple, consistency in the serve and serve receive aspect of the game is crucial for success. Poor serving can halt momentum, while receiving errors give free points to the opponent.
In the NCAA tournament, teams cannot afford to shoot themselves in the foot.
If Florida wants to play deep into December, it needs to ensure its serving stays sharp.
“The best news,” coach Wise said, “is we get to play another day.”
Follow Brian Lee on Twitter @brianlee_17
UF setter Abby Detering serves during Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 11, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.
