Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Tight end R.J. Raymond said he eschewed his usual quiet tendencies after Saturday's 38-17 loss to Missouri. "You gotta play for so much more," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators at crossroads near end of season

By Alanis Thames | Nov. 9, 2018

It’ll take some adjustments.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Jarlskog, Kessler lead Gators on Day 1 of Fall Nationals

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 7, 2018

Ida Jarlskog and McCartney Kessler had been the Gators’ women’s tennis team’s best players all fall. The two easily sliced through the ITA Southeastern Regional like a hot knife through butter, with Jarlskog defeating Kessler in the finals of that tournament.

Redshirt sophomore Holly Carlton (right) was convinced by freshman Thayer Hall (middle) to transfer to the University of Florida.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

One for the team: Holly Carlton’s journey from the backyard to front row

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 7, 2018

A 9-year-old Holly Carlton followed her older sister, Kayla, to their quiet backyard in the Eastern Loudoun subdivision in Sterling, Virginia, with a volleyball in hand. The two went to a portion of their backyard that was fenced off for a makeshift volleyball court.

Guard Funda Nakkasoglu scored 22 points in Florida's 60-58 loss to Gardner-Webb. She shot the potential game-winning three with second remaining, but was off the mark.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators open season in disappointing fashion with loss to Gardner-Webb

By Sam Campisano | Nov. 7, 2018

Redshirt senior Funda Nakkasoglu already had 22 points on the day and had made at least half of her shots from three-point range. A pass from Delicia Washington put the ball in the right hands for the Florida women’s basketball team down by two with just a few seconds left.

Guard Andrew Nembhard went 4-for-8 from the field with 12 points and four assists in 34 minutes against FSU.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Poor shooting night dooms Florida against Seminoles

By Chris O'Brien | Nov. 7, 2018

t’s been a while since the Florida Gators last beat the Florida State Seminoles in basketball.

Senior guard KeVaughn Allen was held to zero points in Florida's 81-60 loss to Florida State.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Season opening loss to FSU shows UF has a ways to go

By Nothing But Nettuno | Nov. 7, 2018

Losing streaks are tough. Especially when they come against your biggest rival.

"If they're not on this team with a competitive attitude... they shouldn't be here," linebacker David Reese said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen, Gators stress competitiveness in bid to avoid third straight loss

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 7, 2018

The Florida football team changes mentalities more than David Bowie changed his style.

Senior McClain Kessler wrapped up his fall season with a doubles loss in the Round of 16 at the Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Dimitrova finishes strong, men sputter at end of tourney

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 5, 2018

Women’s team rebounds after tough opening day

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons recorded a game-high 16 kills and added four service aces in Florida’s four-set win against Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators rally past Arkansas for program’s 1,000th win

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 5, 2018

Paige Hammons lined up for a serve in the second set donning her bright, highlighter orange headband and smacking her gum as she had done every match previous. Her serve slapped the tape of the net, but it crept over the side and fell just out of reach of three Arkansas defenders, causing them to look up in the rafters of the O’Connell Center and wish they were as fortunate.

Guard Jalen Hudson said he’s looking forward to opening the season against FSU. “I live for games like this. I never had a season where your first game is a really tough competitor and a rival,” he said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators look to end losing streak to ‘Noles in season opener

By Tyler Nettuno | Nov. 5, 2018

Scottie Wilbekin and Patric Young donned the orange and blue the last time the Florida basketball team scored a win against rival Florida State.

Goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese player her last season in Orange and Blue, leaving behind big shoes to fill along with the team's nine other graduating seniors.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Post Mortem: Becky Burleigh’s first losing season found redemption at its end

By River Wells | Nov. 5, 2018

Seven wins, 10 losses, and four ties.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Gators’ issues during loss were nothing new

By Lost City of Alanis | Nov. 5, 2018

Success has a way of disguising flaws.

Quarterback Kyle Trask took over for Feleipe Franks with five minutes to go in the third quarter in Saturday’s 38-17 loss to Missouri. He led a scoring drive in his first series.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators find more questions than answers in loss to Mizzou

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 5, 2018

It must have been tough for Feleipe Franks.

Assistant coach Dave Balogh said his team didn't perform up to their own standard over the weekend. "I'm looking forward to seeing us build on this next weekend for our last fall event," he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Dimitrova blitzes through consolation bracket as Gators wrap up tournament

By Brendan Farrell | Nov. 4, 2018

One of the reasons junior Tsveta Dimitrova wanted to transfer to the University of Florida was to challenge herself.

Receiver Van Jefferson was targeted 15 times Saturday against Missouri. He caught four passes for 33 yards.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

It’s easy to see why Florida fell to Mizzou on Saturday. They forced the ball to Van Jefferson more times than not.

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 3, 2018

I made the decision before the Gators played Vanderbilt on Oct. 13 to start paying attention to who quarterback Feleipe Franks likes to throw the ball to.

Quarterback Kyle Trask entered the Missouri game with five minutes to go in the third quarter. He finished 10-for-18 for 126 yards and a touchdown in Florida's 38-17 loss.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

HoCo Letdown: Gators fall flat, suffer second consecutive SEC loss

By Mark Stine | Nov. 3, 2018

Drew Lock saw Kam Scott the whole way.

Senior Stanley Wu helped lead the UF men to victory over FSU in its home pool with individual victories in 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators continue winning trend with sweep of FSU

By Evan Lepak | Nov. 3, 2018

Florida's swimming and diving teams battled through some rainy weather in Tallahassee to sweep the Florida State Seminoles in the Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown at Marcom Aquatics Center on Friday.

Forward Deanne Rose (21) had Florida's greatest scoring chance in the 87th minute against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament semifinals. She struck it right at the keeper, and Arkansas went on to win in the first minute of overtime.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida’s SEC Tournament run, season come to an end after OT loss to Arkansas

By Sam Campisano | Nov. 2, 2018

Kaylan Marckese finally ran out of magic.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Week 10

Nov. 2, 2018

Everyone sober yet? No? All right then.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Keyontae Johnson will be Florida's best player by end of 2019

By Chris O'Brien | Nov. 2, 2018

It won’t be Jalen Hudson.