It’s rare to start any sports season the way it ended.
The last time the Gators faced Nebraska, it finished with Big Red taking home its fifth national title.
This year, however, the story had a different ending.
The No. 7 Gators stole their first victory of the season against the No. 2 Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska, Friday night 3-1.
With the win (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23), Florida brought an end to Nebraska’s 30-game win streak at home and got its revenge on last year’s championship match.
Here’s a look at tonight’s three stars of the game that contributed to UF’s first win of the season:
1. Thayer Hall
Thayer Hall is the real deal.
There’s not much to complain about for the freshman outside hitter’s debut on the college court in Friday night’s contest against one of the top teams in the nation.
Hall was a dominant force on the court from start to finish. She assisted Florida’s offense from the left-side pin as well as the back row, contributing in all six rotations.
The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native ended the night logging 20 kills on 60 swings.
Hall set a dynamic tempo in the first set, showing her strong presence on the court early on.
She may be a freshman, but her maturity and quick thinking, which helped her find the open court on tough offensive plays, came off like she had been competing in the college league for years.
At the end of the second set in a brief media interview, coach Mary Wise was most impressed with Hall’s poise and demeanor in a tough Nebraska atmosphere.
Some of Hall’s most notable plays came at crucial moments. Two times she secured set wins for the Gators.
Despite her great offensive effort, Hall’s youth showed in little things such as service errors. She logged three for the night, which contributed to the team’s 12 overall.
Service errors aside, Hall’s debut performance will not be forgotten moving forward.
2. Marlie Monserez
The best kind of offense has a strong leader, and freshman setter Marlie Monserez proved to be just that Friday night at the Devaney Sports Center.
The younger Monserez sister split playing time with her older sister Allie, Florida’s other setter, throughout Friday’s contest.
Together, the Monserez sisters ran an efficient offense, but Marlie, in particular, gave a glimpse into what Florida’s future could hold moving forward.
The freshman logged 23 assists and one service ace in her debut against the Cornhuskers.
Marlie forced Nebraska to lose its rhythm early on, something the Cornhuskers are not used to, especially when playing on their home court.
A crucial part of Florida’s success Friday night came from its passing from the back row, which helped open up options on the front line between running a pin hitter or one of the middles.
Monserez’s experience on the court may be short on paper, but it didn’t show in her performance against Nebraska.
3. Mia Sokolowski
While Friday night’s match was full of youth and inexperience at the college level, it’s important to note the Gators’ success couldn’t have come without the leadership of the team’s upperclassmen.
Mia Sokolowski, a redshirt sophomore outside hitter, was one of the most consistent players on the court Friday night.
She often read Nebraska’s block on the right-side pin well enough to make strategic plays. Sokolowski tallied eight kills for the night, the second highest for the Gators, on 22 swings.
She played in about half the sets last season’s stars on the team did. Sokolowski logged 59 sets overall compared to the likes of former All-American outside hitter Carli Snyder’s 116 sets.
However, the Tucson, Arizona, native’s consistency on the court could lead to more playing time as the season moves forward.
Sokolowski made impactful plays early in the match. Her help was especially felt in the first set when she recorded three kills and helped the Gators build and maintain a strong lead over the Cornhuskers.
Her best kill of the night came in the first set as she helped get Florida up on its feet by sending an attack cross court and securing the 10th point for the Gators.
If she keeps up her consistent play, Sokolowski could prove to be a major force for the Gators’ offense.
Florida will return to the Devaney Sports Center Saturday afternoon when it takes the court against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns at 4:30.
You can follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari or contact her at mfaiello@alligator.org.
After losing to the Cornhuskers in the 2017 title match, Mary Wise and the Florida Gators went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and took revenge on the No. 2 team in the country with a 3-1 victory.
