Gator Country

Kelly Murphy had her seventh triple-double of the season in Florida's 3-0 sweep of Mississippi State in Starkville./Gator Country file photo by Casey Brooke Lawson

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Sophomore Kelly Murphy registered her seventh triple-double of the season and her second consecutive in a three-set sweep as No. 10 Florida defeated Mississippi State 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-22) Sunday afternoon in the Newell-Grissom Building.

The Gators (18-3, 12-2 Southeastern Conference) have now posted six consecutive sweeps of SEC opponents. Florida won the blocking battle 8.0-7.0 and out-dug Mississippi State 65-62 in a match that featured six ties and nine lead changes.

“We fully expected Mississippi State to play well coming off their big win on Friday night,” Florida head coach Mary Wise said. “They did just that by playing lights-out defense and low-error volleyball. A 3-0 win this year is even more difficult to achieve. I thought our team’s play, down 23-18 in the second set, showed a lot of guts.”

Murphy’s second consecutive triple-double came via 11 kills on .320 hitting with 25 assists and 10 digs to complement three blocks for 12.5 points. She broke her own school single-season record in triple-doubles with seven and now has a school-record 13 for her career. Murphy leads all NCAA Division I players with seven triple-doubles.

Four Florida players recorded double-figure kills as junior right-side Lauren Bledsoe had kills on 14 swings with no errors for an impressive .786 hitting efficiency. Sophomore outside hitter Colleen Ward had her third triple-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs for a match-high 14.5 points. Sophomore outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs for 11.5 points.

Senior libero Elyse Cusack was one of four Gators who also recorded double-figure digs, as she posted a team-high 14 scoops. Cusack now has 1,958 digs for her career, which ranks third all-time in SEC history.

Junior setter Brynja Rodgers had 14 assists and posted two service aces, while sophomore middle blocker Cassandra Anderson had a team-high four blocks, marking the 13th time this season she has recorded four or more rejections in a single match. Senior middle blocker Kristina Johnson tied for match-high honors with four blocks.

Florida returns to action Friday when it plays host to Georgia at 7 p.m.

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