Sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin wasted no time in the first set returning to her dominant style of play that Florida fans saw time and time again during her historic freshman campaign.
Florida’s 2023 kill leader went down in its season-opener against Northern Colorado on Aug. 30 with a left leg injury and hadn’t been on the court since.
But when the 6-foot-6 outside hitter took the court for the Gators there were no signs of a slow start.
With the score squared at 2-2 in the first set, Kennedy Martin delighted the raucous home crowd as she tallied her first kill of the match.
It was the first of her 15 kills as she helped lead No. 16 Florida(7-2) to a win over No. 18 Florida State (7-2) in a five-set thriller, 3-2.
Alongside Kennedy Martin, senior middle blocker Gabrielle Essix returned to make her season debut and provided some much-needed efficiency for the Gators, recording 16 kills on 21 attempts.
For Essix, who has undergone nagging knee injuries over the past year, it was worth the wait.
“My support staff and my teammates have given me so much support,” Essix said. “They never doubted me in any sense.”
Redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin also contributed for the Gators, racking up 15 kills. The UNLV transfer leads the Gators in kills this season with 112.
The first set was a tight contest that featured 10 ties and four lead changes. While the Gators committed nine total errors to the Seminoles’ seven, they recorded a .394 hitting percentage and racked up 11 digs. Ultimately, the Gators pulled ahead, claiming the set 25-23.
In the opening set alone, freshman setter Taylor Parks recorded 15 assists. Parks entered Tuesday’s matchup 20th in the nation in assists per set with 10.59, and finished the match with a career-high 56 assists, as well as 10 digs en route to a double-double.
“Taylor Parks is such an amazing setter,” Essix said. “We’ve been working and building that connection, and everything happens with a great pass.”
In the second set, the match’s back-and-forth affair continued, with 11 ties and three lead changes. This time, however, the Seminoles were the victors, earning set point on a successful challenge to win 25-22.
For the Gators, freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe recorded a team-high four kills in the set. She would finish the match with 10 kills, making her the fourth Gator in double digits.
Florida State pulled ahead to open the third set behind strong play at net leading to a 25-21 set victory for the Seminoles.
The fourth set proved to be a must-win for the Gators, and they delivered. Behind four kills from Isabel Martin and six from Essix, the Gators cruised to a dominant 25-16 victory.
The final set kicked off with a bang when a Kennedy Martin spike was ruled out of bounds by the court official.
However, Florida head coach Mary Wise opted to use a challenge. The challenge was successful, giving the Gators an early boost.
With the momentum firmly in its favor, Florida was able to find a rhythm and gain some distance from their cross-state rival.
On game point, Isabel Martin recorded a kill to close out the five-set bout. The point clinched the match for UF as the Gators cruised to a 15-6 victory in the set.
With the rivalry win secured, the Florida players rushed to the student section to embrace the fans and sing “The Orange and Blue”.
Florida will next take on North Texas at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
