Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF coach Jim McElwain motions to the Gators defense during Florida's 28-27 win against Kentucky on Saturday at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: McElwain and player threats need to stop, immediately

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 23, 2017

Things in Gainesville have been pretty tense lately.

Anna Danilina watches the ball during the 2016 ITA Regional Championships at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Anna Danilina falls in singles finals match in Athens

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 23, 2017

One match away from claiming her second singles title of the season, UF’s Anna Danilina came up one win short in Athens, Georgia.

UF coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday that Florida coaches are receiving death threats because of the team's performance. “In this business, we're the ones they take the shots at and that's the way it is,” McElwain said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Jim McElwain says death threats are ‘part of the business’

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 23, 2017

Off to their worst start since Jim McElwain took over as head coach, criticism seems to surround the Gators (3-3, 3-2 SEC). On Wednesday, that negativity took a turn for the dramatic when McElwain said some people have sent death threats to UF coaches and their families.

UF midfielder Briana Solis scored the game-winning goal against Tennessee on Sunday in Knoxville.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Bicycle-kick save helps UF soccer team stave off Volunteers in Knoxville

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 22, 2017

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Parker Roberts, starting her third consecutive game on the back line, watched as Tennessee’s Danielle Marcano received a headed pass into the box. Goalie Kaylan Marckese charged toward the Volunteer forward but couldn’t get to the ball before Marcano got a foot to it to chip it over her.

Gators receiver Kadarius Toney (17) hasn't played since Florida's 17-16 loss to LSU on Oct. 7. Toney, a freshman, suffered a separated shoulder and was "very limited" in practice last week, UF coach Jim McElwain said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Depleted Gators open as 14.5-point underdogs to Georgia

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 22, 2017

UF receiver Dre Massey said he’s never been on a team with so many season-ending injuries.

UF outside hitter Shainah Joseph led all players with 13 kills on Sunday in the Gators 3-1 win against Auburn at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Shainah Joseph leads Gators volleyball team to road victory over Auburn

By Justin Ahlum | Oct. 22, 2017

Positioned on the right side of the floor, Shainah Joseph jumped up and sent a kill to the back left corner of Auburn’s half of the court.

Richard Spencer protesters march toward the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts holding a “Gators not Haters” sign.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: In the wake of Spencer controversy, it’s OK to take a break from sports

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 22, 2017

A white man in a black V-neck stood outside the Phillips Center on Thursday. On his right shoulder, he had pinned a pro-Nazi button. He proceeded to speak about how he disliked transgender people.

UF's Anna Danilina returns a ball during Florida's 6-1 win over USF on Jan. 27, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF’s Anna Danilina reaches singles final of ITA Southeast Regionals

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 22, 2017

After a long weekend of competition in Athens, Georgia, one member of the Gators women’s tennis team remains in the main draw of singles play at the ITA Southeast Regionals.

UF golfer John Axelsen is 5 under after the first day of the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational, helping the Gators finish the day in second place.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

John Axelsen’s eight birdies put Gators in second place after Day 1 at Tavistock

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 22, 2017

Freshman John Axelsen had a rough start to his season, finishing 7 over in both of the Gators’ first two tournaments of fall before being removed from the lineup ahead of their next competition.

Caeleb Dressel races in the 400 meter freestyle relay during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimming and diving men’s victory vs. Texas sole win at Texas/Indiana tri-meet

By River Wells | Oct. 21, 2017

The third annual Texas/Indiana tri-meet at the O’Connell Center concluded after Day 2, and while the men’s swimming team did manage to escape with a victory over three-time defending champions Texas, there was not a whole lot of success anywhere else.

Caeleb Dressel rests in the water during Florida’s 183-117 win against Tennessee on Jan. 28, 2017, at the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimming and diving compete in Day 1 of Texas/Indiana tri-meet

By River Wells | Oct. 20, 2017

During Day 1 of the Texas/Indiana tri-meet at the O’Connell Center, the Florida swimming and diving team mostly lagged behind both of their opponents.

Carli Snyder gets ready to spike the ball over the net during UF's 3-1 win against Florida A&M on Friday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

‘Bounce back’: Gators volleyball team sweeps Alabama in Tuscaloosa

By Justin Ahlum | Oct. 20, 2017

Carli Snyder approached the left side of the net. With a set from Cheyenne Huskey, the senior outside hitter smacked a shot across the court and into the deck at the beginning of the match to jumpstart Florida’s sweep of Alabama 25-17, 25-18, 25-17.

After a 5-1 record as a starter, Del Rio is fighting to keep his job against redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks and transfer Malik Zaire.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: UF athletic department should follow Luke Del Rio’s lead and condemn Richard Spencer

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 19, 2017

The University of Florida sat still on Thursday. Classes continued on like normal, but campus felt dead. Or at least, everywhere except its southwest corner. That’s where white nationalist Richard Spencer’s speech attracted attention and sparked confrontations between his small number of supporters and hundreds of protesters. The event was one of the biggest spectacles in recent university memory, with more than half a million dollars spent on security. But if you took a peek at most Twitter accounts associated with UF athletics, you’d have no idea it happened.

Caroline Knop and the Gators volleyball team is looking to put their loss to Kentucky behind them. “We want to be peaking in December and not October, so for us to put that loss behind us will be really important,” Knop said.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball team ready to play Friday at Alabama

By Andrew Huang | Oct. 19, 2017

The No. 4 Gators are looking to rebound from a 3-1 home loss at the hands of then-No. 8 Kentucky on Sunday.

Eight Gators writers pick eight college football games from around the country.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks column bye week: Is Florida’s season already over?

Oct. 19, 2017

The halfway point in the season is upon us, and Florida is already limping to the finish with a 3-3 record. Luckily for the Gators, they have a bye week, giving their fans a chance to have at least one fall Saturday without inevitable disappointment. With a looming matchup against No. 3 Georgia, things are looking bleak for the Gators’ season. But is it time to officially declare Florida’s 2017 campaign is over? That’s for our writers to decide. Before we make our picks for this weekend’s college football games, alligatorSports editor Matt Brannon and assistant editor Dylan Dixon are going to debate whether Florida’s season is already over.

UF coach Gregg Troy encourages his swimmers during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swim and dive teams set to face Indiana, Texas this weekend in O’Connell Center

By River Wells | Oct. 19, 2017

After a 25-day break, the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will face the Texas Longhorns and the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday and Saturday in the O’Connell Center.

Anna Danilina returns a backhand during Florida's 4-2 win against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF women’s tennis players in Athens, Georgia, for ITA Southeast Regional Championships

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 19, 2017

After taking two weeks to practice what they learned at the Riviera ITA All-American Championships, Florida’s women’s tennis players traveled to Athens, Georgia, on Thursday for their next tournament. The Gators will play in the ITA Southeast Regional Championships — a competition that includes 17 schools from Florida and Georgia.

UF midfielder Sarah Troccoli scored her first goal of the season against Kentucky on Thursday in Daytona Beach. "It came at a good time because it was nice to go into the locker room with a lead instead of 0-0," coach Becky Burleigh said.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer team beats Kentucky 2-0 in Daytona Beach

By Mark Stine | Oct. 19, 2017

Sarah Troccoli took the ball into the attacking third, cut inside from the left flank and fired a shot 18 yards from goal just before halftime. The junior midfielder’s shot curled over the head of Kentucky goalkeeper Abigail Zoeller and dipped under the bar, giving Troccoli her first goal of the season.

After losing to No. 5 Kentucky, the Gators will travel to Alabama to play the Crimson Tide and Auburn. “We played the best in the country, or will be, or is one of the best,” coach Mary Wise said of Kentucky following the loss.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators eager to address the problems from their first loss of the season

By Justin Ahlum | Oct. 18, 2017

After losing to No. 5 Kentucky, the Gators knew the Wildcats earned the win. Rachael Kramer, Rhamat Alhassan and Mary Wise all shared similar thoughts following the match.

UF punter Johnny Townsend retweeted a gif praising him for a personal-best 67-yard punt following Florida's 19-17 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Bragging after a loss? Another instance of the Gators’ laughable social media conduct

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 18, 2017

I had a column published last week about Florida’s football players and their questionable social media profiles.