Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men’s and women’s win 5th straight Pinch A Penny Invitational

By AARON FRIEDLAND | Oct. 5, 2014

The Florida swimming and diving team took care of business this weekend as both the men’s and women’s team captured their fifth consecutive title at the All Florida Invitational. The men’s squad won pretty handedly with a final score of 1,395 with Florida State coming in second with 923. While the women held a strong lead throughout the weekend, they had to stand off a tough California squad, led by four-time Olympic gold medalist winner Missy Franklin. UF finished with a score of 956 with Cal finishing behind them at 861.

Simone Antwi (16) hits the ball over the net for a kill attempt during Florida's 3-0 win against Ole Miss in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball sweeps Mississippi State despite poor defense

By EDEN OTERO | Oct. 5, 2014

Florida added another Southeastern Conference win to its belt on Sunday at Mississippi State.

Becky Greene races during the 2014 Mountain Dew Invitational on UF's Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF cross country take eighth place at Paul Short Run

By GRAHAM HALL | Oct. 5, 2014

Facing some of their toughest competition this season, the Florida women’s cross country team needed their best performances if they hoped to compete with some of the top runners in North America.

Freshman quarterback Treon Harris directs players during the fourth quarter of Florida's 10-9 victory against Tennessee on Oct. 4 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Harris sparks UF offense, Florida tops Tennessee 10-9

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Oct. 4, 2014

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As the third quarter dwindled to its final seconds and Florida trailed Tennessee 9-0, Will Muschamp needed to make a change.

Alex Holston swings at the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Tennessee on Oct. 27 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF volleyball wins 3-1 against LSU

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 3, 2014

Florida found themselves down 18 to 22 in the fourth set of Friday’s match against LSU.

Savannah Jordan dribbles the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against Georgia at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer tops Texas A&M on the road

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Oct. 3, 2014

Most teams aren’t supposed to be this good on the road.

Redshirt junior quarterback Jeff Driskel hands the ball to junior running back Matt Jones during Florida's 36-30 overtime victory against Kentucky on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Jones leads Florida running game into Tennessee

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Oct. 2, 2014

Matt Jones remembers his first trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the Volunteers in 2012. It was his first career start and his second trip on the road with the Gators.

Four Gators converge to tackle Volunteers running back Rajion Neal (20) during Florida’s 31-17 victory against Tennessee on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Picks column: week 6

Oct. 2, 2014

Site: Your couch (Cap. 4)

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

VanDeGrift still running despite numerous injuries

By GRAHAM HALL | Oct. 2, 2014

Coach Paul Spangler knows the importance of seizing every opportunity to improve.

Rhamat Alhassan (1) attempts a block during Florida's 3-0 win against Ole Miss on Sunday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF volleyball faces LSU in SEC matchup

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 2, 2014

Florida and LSU meet tonight in very different circumstances.

Christen Westphal dribbles the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against Georgia at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida heads to College Station, faces Texas A&M tonight

By GRAHAM HACK | Oct. 2, 2014

Florida takes its show on the road tonight in a highly anticipated top-10 matchup against Texas A&M, but if you believe the players, the only number they are concerned about is the final score.

Neiron Ball tackles Alabama wide receiver DeAndrew White during the Gators' 42-21 loss to the Crimson Tide on Sept. 20.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Bullard, Ivie take over for Orr

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Oct. 1, 2014

Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin did not enjoy watching his defense struggle against Alabama.

D.J. Humphries blocks an Arkansas defensive lineman during Florida’s 30-10 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Humphries set to return to Gators’ offensive line against Volunteers

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Oct. 1, 2014

A maligned group, constantly groaned about by Florida fans in 2013, is now one of strength.

Holly Pole serves the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Ole Miss on Sunday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Otero's Opinion: 'Sweetness' Breaking down Florida volleyball’s serving nicknames

By EDEN OTERO | Oct. 1, 2014

If you’re tired of reading hard-hitting news about Jeff Driskel’s fate as starting quarterback and coach Will Muschamp’s confidence in him, you’ve come to the right article at the right time.

In this Nov. 23, 2013, file photo, Oregon's starting quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is tackled in the backfield by Arizona's Marquis Flowers (2) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tucson, Ariz.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Oregon-Arizona, ‘Bama-Ole Miss among games to watch this week

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Oct. 1, 2014

If you haven’t watched as much college football so far this fall as you may have wanted to, this is the weekend to plop yourself in front of the TV all day and do so. This week, there are six games that pit Top-25 teams against each other, and most of them have college football playoff implications.

Mac Reynolds races during the 2014 Mountain Dew Invitational on UF's Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Reynolds ready to improve, run fast for Florida cross country

By GRAHAM HALL | Sep. 30, 2014

A team that expected to have a senior presence has suddenly found itself in a state of flux, unsure whether they’ll be classified as deep or young.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF men’s swimming and diving team gears up for season debut

By AARON FRIEDLAND | Sep. 30, 2014

As the Florida women’s swimming and diving team puts its first victory of the season from last Saturday behind, it looks ahead to the three-day Pinch A Penny Invitational this weekend along with the men’s team.

Brooke Sharp (11) celebrates with teammates following her goal during Florida's 2-1 win against Georgia on Friday at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Sharp makes big impact for UF soccer

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Sep. 30, 2014

For a sophomore forward who, until last weekend, had started every game this season on the bench, getting to start two games in a row was not an opportunity to waste.

Treon Harris calls for a snap during Florida's 65-0 win against Eastern Michigan at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Roper: Harris not ready to take on starting quarterback role

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 30, 2014

Kurt Roper has all the confidence in the world that Treon Harris will be a good quarterback one day.

Jeff Driskel rushes during Florida's 42-21 loss to Alabama on Sept. 20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Roper focused on improving offense production on all downs

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 30, 2014

Florida players like Kurt Roper.