When UF redshirt sophomore Alexis Stucky was announced as a part of Florida’s starting lineup on Sunday, the Stephen O’Connell Center crowd roared in realization: the All-SEC setter is now fully back in action.
After returning in the third set of Friday’s win against North Texas, Stucky made her mark from the opening moments of the Gators’ match with the Buffalo Bulls.
On Florida volleyball’s first point of the match, Stucky set up redshirt senior outside hitter Isabel Martin’s kill. That would mark the first of 32 assists for Stucky in the bout.
She also recorded two kills, eight digs, two blocks and a service ace to help drive the No. 16 Gators (9-2) to a 3-0 sweep over the University at Buffalo (4-9) in the final match of the Sunshine Invitational.
The Gators put together a dominant effort, compiling an impressive .442 hitting percentage in the match. Florida also tallied eight and a half blocks and 11 service aces on the day.
The Gators received strong performances from sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin and Isabel Martin, who racked up 12 and seven kills, respectively. Both players were recently named to the AVCA’s 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award Watch List on Sept. 18.
The first set started with the two teams tied up at nine apiece. Soon enough, however, the Gators found their footing and pieced together a 6-0 scoring run. From there, it was all Florida, who went on to take the set 25-15.
Fifth-year outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick impressed for the Gators, recording a team-high five kills in the first set. She would finish the match with eight kills.
The Gators’ momentum continued into the second set, as they went on an early 5-0 run. Despite some resistance from the Bulls as the set went on, Florida managed to string together a staggering 14-0 run to keep Buffalo at bay. UF would lead the set by as much as 18 and eventually took the set 25-9.
Junior libero Emily Canaan served as the anchor of Florida’s run, racking up five service aces in the set alone.
The third and final set continued to be all Florida, and Kennedy Martin ended up as the star of the show.
She recorded six kills in the set and a service ace, driving the Gators to clinch the match with a 25-16 set victory.
Florida will now head to Norman to take on Oklahoma in its SEC opener on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
