After taking the first two sets, Florida aimed for a sweep in the third set. However, Auburn fought back, intensifying the match and avoiding a sweep.
The match featured 29 ties and 11 lead changes in the tightly-contested matchup.
Florida (20-5, 11-3 SEC) emerged victorious in the fourth set Wednesday night against Auburn (14-11, 4-10 SEC).
With the first set knotted at 12-12, Florida pulled ahead with a three-point run following a kill from sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin, an Auburn attack error and a kill from freshman outside hitter Lauren Harden.
Kennedy Martin totaled 31 kills in the match, one shy of her career high.
Shortly after a media timeout in the first frame, Auburn called their own timeout after Florida pulled ahead 18-13 after a kill from Kennedy Martin and two kills from freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste.
Out of the timeout, the Tigers made an attack error and the Gators recorded a block, pushing Florida’s lead to 20-13.
UF’s fifth-year libero Elli McKissock turned in a quality performance defensively, racking up 31 digs in the match.
Two kills from Auburn cut Florida’s lead to 24-17, but Rothe responded with a kill, giving the Gators a 25-17 first set victory.
The second set was highly competitive in the early going as well as Auburn and Florida were squared at 10 apiece. Junior libero Emerson Hoyle tallied an ace for the Gators.
UF redshirt sophomore setter Alexis Stucky and Isabel Martin also worked in aces in the second set.
Florida’s attack errors allowed the Tigers to trail 19-18 in the second set. However, UF head coach Mary Wise called a timeout and junior libero Emily Canaan followed it up with an ace, giving the Gators a 21-19 lead.
UF closed out the third frame with a kill from Kennedy Martin, taking the set 25-23.
Set three began neck-and-neck with Auburn looking to shift the momentum of the match and Florida looking to seal its victory.
Auburn pulled ahead 13-11 after a kill and two Florida attack errors.
Wise called a timeout after the Tigers extended their lead to 19-16.
Out of the timeout, Kennedy Martin posted a kill but Auburn responded with a kill of its own, pushing the Tigers ahead 20-17.
Auburn kept its foot on the gas down the stretch of the third frame, closing out the set with a 25-20 victory.
The fourth set carried much of the same theme of being competitive early with the Tigers and Gators knotted at 12 apiece.
Florida took a 13-12 lead following a block from Auguste and Kennedy Martin. Auburn called a timeout while it trailed 21-19.
Kennedy Martin served an ace on match point, handing Florida a 25-21 third set victory.
Florida will return home for senior day to face Central Florida Saturday in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 4:30 p.m.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
