Redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky stepped onto the same court where she suffered a season-ending injury a year ago.
She sported a knee brace and a wide smile as she joined the squad’s huddle to open the third set.
Stucky picked up where she left off, recording 14 assists and one kill in her first set of the season.
Florida (8-2) swept North Texas (2-8) in front of a moderately sized but energetic student section at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Friday.
Sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin tallied 14 kills, while redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin totalled eight.
North Texas got off to a hot start with a three-point run to open the match. The Mean Green maintained a solid lead the entire first set with solid play, and capitalized on attack, and service errors from Florida.
Eventually, a kill from fifth-year outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick late in the first set evened the score 20-20.
Fitzpatrick secured seven kills in the match.
North Texas called a timeout but Kennedy Martin followed up by giving Florida its first lead of the match 21-20. Kennedy Martin served two aces in the first set alone to help guide the Gators.
After consecutive kills from Kennedy Martin and Fitzpatrick as well as an ace from fifth-year libero Elli McKissock, UF put itself ahead 24-22.
The Gators closed out the first set with a 25-22 victory with a kill from freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste.
Florida got into a rhythm in the second set, starting the frame with a 5-0 lead following a kill from Isabel Martin.
Two aces from Isabel Martin contributed to the Gators jumping out to an 11-1 lead.
But North Texas was able to respond with an ace and a kill of its own to cut into Florida’s lead.
However, the Gators responded with two consecutive kills from Isabel Martin and Kennedy Martin and an ace from junior libero Emerson Hoyle, allowing UF to extend its lead to 18-7 in the second set.
Florida closed out the frame 25-13 as Kennedy Martin led the way for the Gators.
With Stucky included in the lineup in the third set, Florida dominated.
The Gators continued their strong offense from the previous sets with kills from freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe, Isabel Martin, AC Fitzpatrick and Kennedy Martin to push the Gators ahead 8-1.
UF secured the match in the third set 25-18 following a kill from Rothe who totaled six in the match.
Florida will next face Buffalo on the final day of the Sunshine Invitational Sunday at the O’Dome at 3 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
