Florida volleyball (21-5) honored its six seniors before playing its last home game of the 2024-2025 season where they beat its in-state opponent UCF (9-16) in four sets.
Sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin started the match with a kill, bringing Florida to a 5-4 lead in the first frame while tallying five kills.
Following a UCF attack error, a kill from Kennedy Martin, and an ace from freshman setter Taylor Parks, the Knights called a timeout as they trailed 11-8.
Kennedy Martin totalled 29 kills throughout the match, marking another close call to setting her career-high of 32 kills.
The Gators lengthened their lead with a kill from Kennedy Martin, senior middle blocker Amaya Thomas, and an ace from fifth-year libero Elli McKissock, causing UCF to call a timeout after Florida extended its lead 16-10.
McKissock’s performance was impressive, recording 20 digs in the match.
Two more kills from Kennedy Martin pushed Florida to an 18-13 lead. A block from Parks and freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste added another point to Florida’s score.
Isabel Martin posted back-to-back kills, pushing Florida 21-15. UCF began to catch up, scoring an ace and a kill to bring the score to 22-17.
Kennedy Martin responded with a kill before a UCF attack error. Martin totalled 11 kills in the first set.
To close out the set, Alec Rothe threw down a kill, set by Taylor Parks, allowing Florida to win the first set 25-20. Parks made 53 assists throughout the afternoon.
UCF started the second frame with a four-point run, leading 4-0.
However, Florida's four-point run brought the Gators back into the lead 10-7, featuring a block from senior outside hitter Isabel Martin and Auguste.
McKissock served an ace, bringing Florida ahead 17-12, eliciting another timeout from the Knights.
Off the timeout, freshman outside hitter Lauren Harden worked in another kill, her third of the day. Auguste and Parks followed with kills of their own, pushing UF’s lead to 21-13. Kennedy Martin continued her momentum with an ace.
UCF made a short comeback with a four-point run consisting of kills and a Florida attack error, closing Florida’s lead 24-18.
Auguste closed the second set 25-18 with a kill.
Parks opened the third set with an ace, giving Florida an early lead. An ace from junior libero Emily Canaan brought Florida its first lead of the set. Isabel Martin followed with back-to-back kills.
For nine points, the teams alternated kills, tying the set 13-13. Parks worked in back-to-back kills off a media timeout.
A kill from the Knights, errors from the Gators and an ace from Isabel Martin tied the set 18-18, prompting Florida head coach Mary Wise to call a timeout.
Wise called another timeout after an ace from the Knights and two more errors from the Gators. UCF led 22-19, threatening a Florida sweep.
Two kills from the Knights launched them to set point where they won the third set with another kill 25-20.
UCF took a timeout after junior libero Emerson Hoyle served back-to-back aces, as Florida’s lead pushed further to 10-6 in the fourth set.
Hoyle served another ace off the timeout, followed by a kill from freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe, launching the Gators ahead 14-7 and marking a Florida eight-point run.
Kills from Auguste and Kennedy Martin and an ace from Canaan put the Gators at match point 24-14.Kennedy Martin threw down a kill, closing out the match and bringing Florida to a victory.
Florida will next face South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
