Sports | Volleyball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Taylor Brauneis reaches for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. Brauneis had 36 assists against UT-SA on Thursday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators drop anvil on Roadrunners

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 5, 2013

The Gators continued their solid start to the 2013 season Thursday.

Alex Holston reaches to hit the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against New Orleans on Friday in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Holston smashes UF freshman record for opening weekend as Gators go 3-0

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 3, 2013

When Florida swept Duke in three straight sets to capture the Campus USA Credit Union Invite on Sunday, they walked away with more than a trophy.

Sophomore outside hitter Noami Santos-Lamb (17) squats to bump the ball during Florida’s 3-0 victory against New Orleans on Friday in the O’Connell Center. Florida won all three of its weekend matches.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida finding rhythm after successful first weekend

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 2, 2013

Despite the Gators’ perfect 3-0 record to begin the season, coach Mary Wise said the team still has a laundry list of imperfections that must be corrected before the Big Four Classic starts Saturday.

Junior setter Taylor Brauneis (8) celebrates with her teammates during Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators win Campus USA Credit Union Invite

By RJ Schaffer | Aug. 31, 2013

During Saturday’s home match against Duke, winning points became almost too easy for the ninth-ranked Gators women’s volleyball team.

Ziva Recek (9) spikes the ball over the net against Florida Gulf Coast University, Aug. 25, 2012, at the O'Connell Center. Recek took a team-high 40 swings Friday night against LIU-Brooklyn.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida knocks off LIU-Brooklyn in four sets for second Friday win

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Aug. 30, 2013

After blowing out New Orleans in the first match of the day, No. 9 Florida came back down to earth against LIU-Brooklyn in the second game of the double-header Friday.

Chloe Mann (10) spikes the ball over Missouri’s Whitney Little (8) during UF’s 3-0 win on Sept. 21, 2012, in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida breezes past New Orleans in season opener

By RJ Schaffer | Aug. 30, 2013

There were few signs of any offseason rust for No. 9 Florida (1-0) in its season opener as it swept New Orleans in three sets (25-7,25-9,25-12) Friday afternoon.

UF coach Mary Wise (above) will square off against former Gator and current LIU-Brooklyn assistant coach Jennifer Robinson when both teams play tonight at 7:30.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF opens season against New Orleans, former Gator

By RJ Schaffer | Aug. 29, 2013

For Jennifer Robinson, returning to Gainesville meant reliving one of the most successful seasons of her volleyball career.

Taylor Brauneis reaches for the ball during a 3-0 victory against Missouri on Sept. 21 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Senior setter making teammates better

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Aug. 27, 2013

When Florida dropped the fourth and final set to Illinois in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Mary Wise began one of the most difficult offseasons she has ever had in her 21 years as a head coach.

Junior libero Taylor Unroe serves against Florida A&M on Aug. 25, 2012, in the O’Connell Center. UF won the match 3-0.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators counting on experienced back row

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Aug. 26, 2013

With 6-foot-2 Betsy Smith and 6-foot-4 Tangerine Wiggs patrolling the net last season, coach Mary Wise never had to worry about the Gators not getting enough blocks.

Florida coach Mary Wise claps during a 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24, 2012 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Veteran UF lineup relishing heightened expectations

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Aug. 22, 2013

Mary Wise’s Frankenstein-like creation that was the 2012 squad was pieced together to fill the gaps left by season-ending injuries and graduating seniors.

Ziva Recek speaks during Volleyball Media Day on Friday at the Lemerand Athletics Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore aiming to improve on upstart freshman season

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Aug. 20, 2013

Ziva Recek was as good as anyone could have expected in 2012.

Sophomore outside hitter Noami Santos-Lamb stands on the court prior to Florida’s 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-12) win against FIU on Aug. 24 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore outside hitter returning to court after knee injury

By JOE MORGAN< | Apr. 22, 2013

Noami Santos-Lamb is healthy and ready to get going.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators fall to Longhorns in Sweet 16

Dec. 8, 2012

With an injury-plagued, youthful and inexperienced team, coach Mary Wise said making the NCAA Tournament was an accomplishment in itself.

Taylor Unroe celebrates after a point in UF’s 3-0 win against College of Charleston on Dec. 1.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF libero Taylor Unroe key against high-powered Texas Longhorns

By JOE MORGAN | Dec. 4, 2012

In Texas, they don’t mess with Taylor Unroe.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 14 Florida earns Sweet 16 berth with sweep against College of Charleston

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Dec. 1, 2012

For the eighth year in a row, the Gators are among the final 16 teams alive in the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore Madison Monserez (11) attempts a pass during UF’s 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Defense carries Florida against Tulsa in first round of NCAA Tournament

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Dec. 1, 2012

When it comes to defense, Madison Monserez keeps digging and digging.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Two role players key for Gators award-winners

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Nov. 29, 2012

For the second time in school history, the Gators enter the NCAA Tournament with the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators turn focus to NCAA Tournament after sweep of Georgia

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Nov. 23, 2012

The Gators wrapped up their regular season with a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-22, 25-19) on the road against Georgia (14-16, 8-12 Southeastern Conference).

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Mann leads Gators in close victory against Tigers

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Nov. 22, 2012

With the Gators already crowned the champions of the Southeastern Conference, Chloe Mann didn’t need a career performance Wednesday night.

Ziva Recek spikes the ball over the net in Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball overcomes injuries, low expectations with emergence of Ziva Recek

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Nov. 19, 2012

The Gators' 20th Southeastern Conference championship is one for the history books.