Three Gators reached double-digit kills in Florida’s narrow matchup against Oklahoma.
Sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin recorded 18 kills, fifth-year outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick recorded 17 kills and redshirt senior Isabel Martin recorded 13 kills.
Florida (10-2) defeated Oklahoma (5-10) in Florida’s first SEC match of the season on Thursday in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Gators and the Sooners opened the match in a close battle, with 12 ties and five lead changes in the first set.
However, the momentum of the set changed in Oklahoma’s favor once Florida called a timeout after trailing 19-17.
Redshirt senior and outside hitter Isabel Martin came out of the timeout and recorded a kill, followed by two consecutive aces from redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky, who played in her second full match since her return to the court from an ACL tear.
Stucky totaled 44 assists and three kills by the end of the night, recording a 2024 season high.
Kills from Isabel Martin and sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin as well as an Oklahoma attack error launched the Gators to a first set victory 25-21.
Oklahoma broke away in the second set to an 8-3 lead.
Following a timeout by, Fitzpatrick tallied a kill just after the Gators huddled to re-energize her squad.
Though, the Sooners led the Gators throughout the majority of the second set, breaking away to a 19-12 largely due to UF attack errors.
Florida freshman outside hitter Lauren Harden ended the Sooner run with a kill, bringing the score 22-14. But Oklahoma closed out the second set with a 25-19 victory.
With both teams looking to take the match lead in the third set, the score was tight from the beginning.
The Sooners broke away with a 13-10 lead after a kill and two consecutive attack errors from Kennedy Martin.
As Oklahoma’s advantage reached 17-12 in the third set, Isabel Martin put down two consecutive kills on assists from Parks.
Florida took a timeout as Oklahoma gained a five point lead but it wasn’t enough to slow down the Sooners’ late push as they secured a 25-18 win in the third set..
In the fourth frame, Florida recorded three consecutive kills from Stucky, Fitzpatrick and Kennedy Martin, pushing the Gators 5-3 lead.
The Gators built off their momentum with an ace from fifth-year libero Elli McKissock and kills from Kennedy Martin and Isabel Martin, extending Florida’s lead 12-8.
McKissock finished off the night with three service aces and 13 digs.
Oklahoma called a timeout after Florida gained a 20-14 lead and briefly stopped its momentum with two consecutive kills.
Florida was strong down the stretch of the fourth set, closing out the frame 25-18 following an attack error from the Sooners.
Oklahoma started the fifth set with a 3-0 scoring run and 5-1 lead, prompting a timeout from UF head coach Mary Wise.
Despite a Kennedy Martin kill, Oklahoma lengthened its lead to 9-3.
Rothe, Kennedy Martin and Fitzpatrick all worked in kills as Florida fought back to bring the score 10-8.
The Gators took their first lead of the fifth set after a 6-0 scoring run and seemingly carried momentum of the match en route to their tenth victory of the season.
The Gators secured the win 15-13 with a kill from Rothe coming off an assist from Stucky.
Florida will next face Kentucky at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sunday at 1 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
