In Florida volleyball’s road match against LSU on Sunday afternoon, fifth-year outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick exploded in the first set, racking up six kills.
This set the pace for the match, leading to a Gators sweep over the Tigers.
In a similar fashion to how she started off Sunday’s action, Fitzpatrick threw down a kill to end the match.
Florida (13-5, 4-3 SEC) defeated LSU (11-7, 3-4 SEC) Sunday afternoon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in front of nearly 2,000 fans.
The Florida volleyball squad took off running in the first set of the match. Kills from Fitzpatrick, sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin and freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste launched the Gators into an 11-2 lead.
Martin tallied 12 kills on the day, while Auguste finished with three.
Florida’s momentum continued throughout the set, as the team went on a six-point scoring run following a service ace from fifth-year libero Elli McKissock, back-to-back kills from Fitzpatrick and LSU attack errors. McKissock totalled three service aces in the match.
With Florida sitting at a 24-10 lead after service errors from both teams, Auguste closed out the set with a kill, bringing the Gators to a 25-10 set one victory.
The second set featured plenty of tight action between the Tigers and the Gators. LSU started the set with its first lead of the match, leading 4-2 after four kills.
Florida closed the gap and tied things up with two kills from Martin, both of which came on assists from redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky. Stucky tallied 31 assists throughout the match.
The Gators worked their way back into the lead 13-11 after kills from redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin and Kennedy Martin. More kills from both teams drove the score up 15-13. Isabel Martin went on to collect eight kills in the match.
Canaan served two consecutive aces, bringing the score to 20-16 and prompting a timeout from the Tigers. Florida’s momentum continued, with Canaan serving another ace coming out of the timeout.
The Gators eventually took the second set 25-18 off of a set from Stucky and a timely kill by Kennedy Martin.
After a tight second set, Florida got off to another hot start in the third set to keep the Tigers at bay.
Freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe opened up the third set with a kill from Stucky, followed by a kill from Fitzpatrick.
After another ace from McKissock, a kill from Stucky and an LSU service error, Florida gained a 7-2 lead, prompting another LSU timeout.
The match slowed when LSU worked in some kills later in the set, tightening the gap to 13-9. Canaan served her fifth and final ace of the day, followed by an LSU service error. This extended Florida’s lead 17-12.
LSU later worked in another kill, trailing by only three points 19-16 after two back-to-back kills.
Kennedy Martin pushed the Gators to a 21-17 lead, allowing them to maintain control of the match. McKissock served another ace, followed by an LSU attack error, to put Florida up 23-17. An attack error from LSU put the Gators at match point.
Fitzpatrick knocked down her 10th and final kill of the night the same way she had opened up the game. She brought the Gators to a 25-17 victory in the set, and in turn, the match.
Florida will next face Tennessee at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Friday at 7 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
