The Gators volleyball team had a lot to play for Friday night as they began their toughest Southeastern Conference road trip of the season at Tennessee.
The last match Florida hadn’t swept was a five-set loss at home on Sept. 25 to the Vols, who also sat at .5 games above Florida to top the SEC rankings — until the Gators dropped to Tennessee in four sets 3-1 (15-25, 25-17, 22-25, 21-25), that is.
The Vols (19-3, 12-1 SEC) pushed Florida beyond its limits with its defense and deconstructed the Gators’ nation-leading hitting efficiency to a dismal .160, well behind the team’s average of .313.
Although senior Kristy Jaeckel pounded 14 kills from the outside hitting position en route to a double-double with 13 digs, the Gators (17-4, 10-2) were unable to provide a balanced attack in the loss.
“For us to come in here and beat a top 25 team, we needed everyone to play their best, and that didn’t happen,” coach Mary Wise said. “Tang (Wiggs) did not have her best night, Kelly (Murphy) certainly did not have her best night and our middles were nonexistent.”
But Florida’s offense wasn’t the only of the Gators’ units to be blamed in the loss.
UF’s offensive struggles mainly stemmed from a defensive setback, especially on serve reception and first contact. Transition play, which Wise has pointed to recently as a needed area of improvement, also added to the Gators’ issues.
Still, Wise was quick to praise the Vols and their players.
“I give them credit,” Wise said. “Next year when they get everybody back, they’ll easily be the preseason favorite. The tide has turned.”
The Vols defense gave Florida trouble in all four sets of the match, as Tennessee’s libero Ellin Mullins dug up 17 of the Gators’ hits alone, while their hitters stood tall at the net for 12 blocks.
Florida’s 13 service errors and 26 attacking misfires also contributed to the loss.
Tennessee’s second victory against UF for the season also solidified the Vols’ SEC title, Florida now sits 1.5 games behind.
“Now were just fighting for a top-16 seed,” Wise said. “This won’t get any easier, and the key will be if our team will be able to move on afterwards. We’ll see.”
The Gators will continue their fight for that seed with another SEC away game Sunday as Florida travels to Kentucky for a 1:30 p.m. match.
