GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida sophomore right side Alex Holston registered a match high 20 kills and junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino dished out a career high 58 assists as the No. 7 Gators defeated Sunshine State opponent UCF 3-1 (28-30, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17) to wrap up a challenging non-conference slate Sunday for the Orange and Blue.
Florida turned in its second-best hitting efficiency of the season (.350) and enters conference play Friday at Auburn 6-3 overall on the season, including a pair of sweeps against ranked opponents in Southern Cal and San Diego.
Four Gators turned in double-digit kill performances Sunday in the win against the Knights (7-5), paced by Holston’s 20, while senior libero Holly Pole scooped up a career-tying 20 digs to help stabilize UF’s passing efforts. Freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan hit .600 with 14 kills, two shy of her career-high 16, while sophomore middle Shaïnah Joseph had a career performance for the second match in a row with 12 kills and a team-high seven blocks. Freshman outside hitter Carli Snyder chipped in 11 kills towards UF’s attack.
After UCF gutted out a gritty 30-28 first-set victory, it was all Gators from there. Under Dagostino’s serve in the second frame, the Gators enjoyed a nine-point margin at UF’s first set point, while the Tampa product rattled off four straight points in the third to give UF a lead it wouldn’t relinquish at 18-17. Florida never trailed in the fourth and final stanza.
GETTING WISE
“This win might not receive as much attention as either of the ones last weekend, but our players and our staff know what a huge win this is against a very well-coached UCF team that has played a great pre-conference schedule. Everything about that team makes me think that there’s a good chance, if we can continue progressing, that we could see them in December.”
BY THE NUMBERS
- .600: freshman middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan’s hitting efficiency behind 14 kills and four blocks. Alhassan has hit .600 or higher in four of Florida’s nine matches this season
- .350: Florida’s team hitting efficiency against the Knights, its second-highest this season behind the Gators’ .449 clip against San Diego
- 84.0: points for Florida against UCF, the Gators’ highest output of the season with 67 kills, 11 blocks and six service aces
- 58: assists for junior setter Mackenzie Dagostino, a new career high. Dagostino now has 50 or more assists in three matches this season for UF (Oklahoma 51, Florida State 55, UCF 58)
- 20: kills for sophomore right side Alex Holston, her second match this season with 20+ kills. Holston slammed down a career-high 24 at FSU. Holston’s .457 clip was her second-best attack percentage this season (.538 vs. San Diego). Holston also had a season-tying four roofs
- 20: digs for senior libero Holly Pole, which ties her career high. Pole also served up a season-best two service aces in her sixth straight match at libero
- 11: blocks for Florida, paced by sophomore Shaïnah Joseph’s career-high seven. UF has now put up double-digit blocks in three straight matches. Joseph also turned in a career-high 12 kills and 16.0 points for Florida Sunday
- 7: kills for junior outside hitter Ziva Recek, a season-best. Recek also served up a season-best two of UF’s six service aces and posted two blocks
- 6: service aces for the Gators against the Knights, UF’s third straight match with at least six and the fourth of the season with six or more (Idaho 8, USC 6, Marquette 7, UCF 6)
- 5: players in double-digit points for the second-consecutive match: Holston (22.0), Alhassan (16.5), Joseph (16.0 – career high), freshman outside hitter Carli Snyder (11.5) and Recek (10.0 – season best)
UP NEXT
The No. 7 Gators now look forward to the second portion of the 2014 campaign, as UF will open Southeastern Conference play at Auburn Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. Florida then returns to the O’Doome for its conference home opener Sunday, Sept. 28 against Ole Miss at 1:30 p.m.