Following Floridaís season opener, coach Mary Wise talked about the intensity of the crowd.
After escaping Arkansas with a five-set victory, she talked about how proud she was of her teamís effort.
But after Sundayís sweep against Mississippi State, she had the luxury of simply talking numbers.
Wise focused on the stat sheet after the Gatorsí three-set victory (25-14, 25-9, 25-18) against the Bulldogs (4-10, 0-5 Southeastern Conference), who remained in the cellar of the SEC.
While talking about how Floridaís serving and blocking vaulted her team to an 11-2 overall record and 5-0 SEC mark, Wise turned her focus to the official scorekeeperís stinginess in awarding blocks.
ìI think the official scorekeeper probably lost track of a few more blocks than even we had,î she said.
ì[He] had us for 11. We had us for more than that.î
Still, Florida statistically dominated Mississippi State near and away from the net.
ìWe served extremely well,î Wise said. ìSo much of this match was decided on the first contact behind the service line. To beat teams, you have to serve and block well because that sets up everything else. We served well, we blocked well and we had fantastic defensive back-row play, and thatís what we were really trying to emphasize with the team.î
Coming into the weekend, the Gators averaged 8.42 service errors and just more than five aces per match.
Against the Bulldogs, Florida chalked up its average five aces but reduced its errors to only two.
The Gatorsí record when leading in service aces improved to 10-1 on the season.
In addition to Floridaís dominance behind the service line, the squadís front line stepped up defensively with 11 blocks ó the most in a three-set match this season.
Floridaís 20 block assists were also Floridaís most in a three-set match.
The squadís next closest blocking performance was Sept. 21 against Missouri, when Florida had 14 block assists.
Florida outhit Arkansas .342 to .064.
But, for the first time all year, no Gator registered double-digit kills.
Every active player for Florida entered the match for the first time since UF played Florida A&M on Aug. 25.
All but four players had at least one kill on the day.
Senior Tangerine Wiggs led the team with nine, while senior Betsy Smith and freshman Ziva Recek finished right behind her with eight each.
Chloe Mann and Simone Antwi each added six kills.
The Gatorsí strategy of letting everyone have their touches paid off, as the Bulldogs did not lead a set until the third, when Wise and her team were down 2-1.
Florida quickly took back the lead with four consecutive points and never let up again, winning the final set and the match.
Florida is the only SEC school with an undefeated conference record as it heads home to face Arkansas and Kentucky for the second time this season.
ìThese two teams are red hot right now,î Wise said. ìI think it will be one of the toughest home stands that weíve had in SEC history.î
David Carr / Alligator Staff
Florida coach Mary Wise claps during a 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24 in the OíConnell Center.
Florida coach Mary Wise claps during a 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24, 2012 in the O'Connell Center.
