Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida head coach Billy Napier looks on during the Gators game against South Florida Sept. 17, 2022. His team has dropped its first two conference games this season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida overwhelmed by defensive shortcomings, still winless in SEC

By Jackson Castellano | Sep. 26, 2022

Mistakes made by defensive coordinator Patrick Toney’s unit were too much to overcome as the Gators were sent home from Knoxville still winless in the Southeastern Conference. Now-unranked Florida fell to now-No. 8 Tennessee 38-33. Despite the close score, the game seemed all but over heading into the fourth quarter. The Volunteers held a three possession lead over head coach Billy Napier.

Freshman setter Alexis Stucky prepares for a point during the Gators' game against Virginia Aug. 27, 2022. Stucky is currently in her sophomore season with the Gators.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Mountains to the Swamp: Wyoming volleyball player takes on Gainesville

By Brandon Hernandez | Sep. 26, 2022

Standing tall at 6-foot-2 with curly red hair, Stucky has already become a familiar face for Florida volleyball fans. For others, the Stucky name is etched around the volleyball landscape of the Cowboy State.

Outside hitter Marina Markova and middle blocker Gabrielle Essix rise above the net for a block against Virginia Aug. 27, 2022.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

South Carolina stuns No. 12 Florida in five sets

By Ethan Eibe | Sep. 26, 2022

South Carolina snapped Florida’s seven game winning streak in five sets (25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 7-15) with a Sunday matinee comeback win at the Carolina Volleyball Center in Columbia, South Carolina. It is Florida’s first loss in Southeastern Conference play and a tough blow for a squad that was one set away from a weekend sweep.

Redshirt freshman midfielder Oakley Rasmussen shoots against South Florida Sept. 1, 2021.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer collapses against Georgia

By Jose Tovar | Sep. 25, 2022

“This was our worst performance of the season." Those were Florida head coach Samantha Bohon’s words following the Gators’ 3-0 loss against Georgia Sunday. UF’s losing streak is now extended to five matches on the season.

Florida's Merritt Beason lays down a kill during a game against Texas A&M on Oct. 16, 2021. Beason laid down a career-high 18 kills against South Carolina, leading the Gators to their first road SEC win of the season.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball spoils South Carolina’s SEC opener

By Brandon Hernandez | Sep. 25, 2022

No.12 Florida spoiled South Carolina’s Southeastern Conference opener three sets to one (25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-19) Saturday on the road at the Carolina Volleyball Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson during the Gators' game against the Kentucky Wildcats Sept, 10, 2022. Richardson accounted for four of Florida's five touchdowns in Knoxville, Tennessee, Saturday but couldn't keep pace with the Volunteers offense.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida can’t make magic happen in Knoxville, drops first road game

By Topher Adams | Sep. 24, 2022

The Gators fell 38-33 on the road against Tennessee. Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker had a career day, throwing for 349 yards and running for an additional 112. Richardson had a bounceback performance for the Gators, throwing for a career-high 453 yards and adding 62 on the ground, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the UT offense.

Florida running back Nay'Quan Wright celebrates a touchdown against South Florida Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

All in the details: No. 20 Florida takes on No. 11 Tennessee in Rocky Top

By Michael Hull | Sep. 23, 2022

The Florida Gators travel up to Knoxville to battle the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday, looking to pull off an upset and improve to 3-1 on the young season.

Junior Maisie Filler adjusts a flag at Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf finishes fourth, Filler shines at Morial Invitational

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 23, 2022

Florida women’s golf finished fourth this week at the Morial Invitational. Junior Maisie Filler recorded her second runner-up finish, setting some new records for UF program history along the way.

Alicia Dudeney during the Gators' match against the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex. UAA Communications photo by Jashari Blige

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Spee and Dudeney open up the season with qualifying victories in the Lubbock 15k

By Zachary Curtin | Sep. 23, 2022

Starting off on the right foot, Spee and Dudeney secured wins in the Lubbock 15k qualifying rounds.

The Gators set high expectations for the 2022-2023 season as one of the most represented universities on the U.S. National Team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gator Swim and Dive enter the 2022-2023 season with an exciting slate of meets

By Kate Wiggins | Sep. 23, 2022

The Gators set high expectations for this season as one of the most represented universities on the 2022-2023 U.S. National Team. These athletes proved their eligibility to swim with the United States in international competitions by scoring a top-six time in any individual Olympic event of a US-sanctioned event, a Federation Internationale de Natation-approved competition or an international competition.

Florida goalie Alexa Goldberg makes a save against Kentucky on Sept. 23, 2021. Goldberg made a few clutch saves to keep the Gators at a draw, but a second-half concesion lead to a 1-0 UF loss.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer falls 1-0 to Ole Miss, extends losing skid to four

By Jose Tovar | Sep. 23, 2022

Florida soccer extended its losing streak to four after falling to No. 13 Ole Miss Thursday night. The Gators battled, but an early second-half goal was enough to sink them.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker hands off the ball at the start of a play against Akron in Neyland Stadium Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022. Photo by: Alexandra Ashmore, The Daily Beacon.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Know Your Enemy: Tennessee Volunteers

By Joseph Henry | Sep. 22, 2022

The Gators and Vols will meet on the gridiron for the 52nd time Saturday. Alligator sports editor Joseph Henry and the Daily Beacon sports editor Josh Lane connected to discuss all of the storylines before the latest edition of the storied rivalry in this week’s Know Your Enemy.

Florida libero Elli McKissock celebrates during the Gators volleyball team's win over Virginia Aug. 27, 2022.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

No. 12 Florida extends win streak to six with sweep of Alabama

By Ethan Eibe | Sep. 21, 2022

Florida volleyball extended its winning streak to six games and kicked off Southeastern Conference play with a sweep of Alabama at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Wednesday night. The Gators moved to 51-0 all-time against the Crimson Tide, with 47 of those wins coming in straight sets.

The Florida Gators landed two commitments for the 2023 class Thursday. (Photo from UF's game against South Florida Sept. 17, 2022)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida announces 2023 football schedule

By Topher Adams | Sep. 20, 2022

The Gators announced their 2023 football schedule Tuesday evening. The slate is headlined by trips to Utah and a cross-divisional matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Adam Steinberg will be the eleventh UF men’s tennis head coach in program history.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida’s returning men’s tennis players embrace leadership as season approaches

By Kyle Bumpers | Sep. 20, 2022

The Gators will be without six players from last year’s 26-3 men’s tennis squad, but they still expect to be a top team in the country. Florida will depend on many new faces as it hopes to return to the National Championship success it had in 2020.

Florida's Ricky Castillo competes in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Cle Elum Regional at Tumble Creek Golf Club in Cle Elum, Washington, on May 19, 2021. (Photography by Stephen Brashear/Red Box Pictures)

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf finishes tied for runner-up at OFCC/Fighting Illini Invite

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Sep. 19, 2022

Florida men’s golf finished tied for runner-up this past weekend at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invite. Ricky Castillo led the Gators as he shot three 2-under-par rounds to finish tied for second individually at Olympia Fields.

Linebacker Scooby Williams celebrates with defensive back Tre’Vez Johnson, who brought in a clutch interception during Florida’s win over South Florida Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators tested by South Florida ahead of third top-25 opponent this season

By Joseph Henry | Sep. 19, 2022

Florida avoided a disastrous upset against USF Sept. 17. The Gators defeated the Bulls 31-28 despite their defense giving up 286 rushing yards and redshirt sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson throwing two interceptions. The old adage — one UF is currently living by — is that an ugly win is still a win.

Sara Dahlstrom fires an forehead return against LSU on Feb. 26, 2021. Dahlstrom is the lone junior on the 2022 women's tennis roster. She is one of only three upperclassmen.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis roster preview

By Zachary Curtin | Sep. 19, 2022

An in depth look at the inner workings of the Gator’s women’s tennis roster ahead of their first event of the fall season, the Lubbock 15k tournament.

Florida head coach Billy Napier during the No. 18 Gators narrow victory over the South Florida Bulls Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators escape upset with narrow victory over South Florida

By Jackson Castellano | Sep. 17, 2022

No. 18 Florida defeated South Florida 31-28 to avoid a disastrous upset Saturday night. Despite allowing more than 400 yards in offense, the Gators would survive to see an above .500 record once more. The Bulls missed a 48-yard field goal which would've sent the game into overtime.

Florida freshman Lauren McCloskey throws the ball into play against the South Florida Bulls Sept. 1, 2022.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer drops SEC opener to Tennessee despite late comeback attempt

By Jackson Reyes | Sep. 17, 2022

The Gators lost Friday night’s match to the Volunteers 2-1. UF sophomore forward Maddy Pirrello was a bright spot for Florida as she became the 25th player in program history to score her first goal in her first start.