Entering the third set with a 22-15 lead, Florida was on a roll and aiming to close out its match against Michigan State after fifth-year outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick worked in two kills.
The Gators closed out the set 25-17 with timely kills from Fitzpatrick and junior middle blocker Amaya Thomas.
Florida (3-0) played yet another match without a pair of key players in redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky and sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin. But it didn’t slow the Gators down in their 3-0 sweep against Michigan State (1-2) at the Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sunday.
With a tight start to the first set, redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin stepped up in a big way. She tied the set at 20-20 with a forceful kill.
It was a battle between the Gators and the Spartans, with the score eventually running all the way up to 24-24, sending the first set to a win-by-two scenario.
Fitzpatrick threw down a kill, bumping the score 25-24, putting the Gators at set point. Fitzpatrick and freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste blocked the next point, awarding Florida the set.
Freshman setter Taylor Parks made up for the absence of Stucky, setting the ball up to Martin for a kill four times in the first set alone.
Florida gained its biggest lead of the first frame after junior libero and defensive specialist Emily Canaan served an ace, upping UF’s lead to 17-11. The momentum prompted Michigan State to call a timeout.
The break allowed the Spartans to temporarily close the gap, but Florida shut them down after Martin recorded three kills, all assisted by Parks. Florida won the second set 25-18 behind a kill from Fitzpatrick, putting Florida up 2-0 in the match.
The Spartans opened the third set with a 5-1 lead, eliciting a Florida timeout.
The Gators returned from the break and shortly after went on a four-point run, bringing the set to 6-6. Michigan State called another timeout after it found itself with a narrow lead.
Martin accounted for 16 of Florida’s 47 kills throughout the game, while Parks recorded 34 of the team’s 44 assists.
With blocks from Auguste and Rothe and a second ace from McKissock, Florida lengthened its lead to 18-13 and never looked back en route to a victory to retain its undefeated record.
Florida will next take on South Florida on Sept. 6 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 7:00 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
