The Stephen O’Connell Center was sufficiently stuffed on Sunday afternoon as the two-time defending national champion Texas Longhorns rolled into town.
The attendance total of 9,255 marked the second-biggest crowd in UF volleyball history, only behind its match against then-No. 1 Wisconsin last season.
But for every successful play the Gators made, it seemed as if the Longhorns made three.
No. 7 Texas (8-3, 3-0 SEC) ultimately steamrolled the No. 18 Gators (10-3, 1-1 SEC) in a three-set sweep.
It was a mistake-heavy match for the Gators, who recorded 35 errors in the match compared to the Longhorns’ 16.
Notably, 22 of the errors were attack errors, and the Gators only had a .146 hitting percentage in the bout.
Texas senior outside hitter Madisen Skinner controlled the action with a joint-match high 12 kills. Meanwhile, Florida sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin also scored 12 kills for the Gators.
Sophomore setter Alexis Stucky was on her game as well, scoring five kills alongside 23 assists, eight digs, two blocks and a service ace.
In the first set, the Gators came out of the gate strong, leading the set by as much as seven. However, the Longhorns pieced together a comeback and ultimately took the set 25-23.
Freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste scored a team-high four kills in the set, while freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe racked up three blocks.
Texas opened up the second set on a three-to-zero run, but the Gators quickly responded to regain the lead. In spite of that, the Longhorns regained their momentum and ran away with the set 25-18.
Redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin led Florida with four kills in the second set, while Kennedy Martin recorded three kills.
In a must-win third set,the Gators took an early 5-1 lead behind two kills apiece from Kennedy Martin and Stucky.
However, It didn’t take long for the Longhorns to storm back, and they did so in dominant fashion. Texas ultimately took the set 25-14 to claim the victory.
Florida is back in action Oct. 9, as it will take on Mississippi State in a bout scheduled for 7 p.m.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
