The Florida volleyball team gets a chance to face some outside competition Saturday when the Gators welcome Florida International, Florida State and Miami to the Florida Gym. Admission is free to the public and the event will feature six one-hour matches in a double round-robin format.
“Volleyball is one of the fortunate sports that gets to compete against outside competition in the spring,” Florida head coach Mary Wise said. “That’s what we’re doing this weekend when we play against Florida International, which returns the kill leader from last year’s NCAA Tournament, a healthier Florida State team and a Miami team that will compete for the Atlantic Coast Conference title. This gives us a chance to use some of the same lineups as we did last year since we return so many players.”
Florida is 3-1 this spring. The Gators have beaten Wisconsin twice, 3-1 and 3-1, and Troy 3-0. Defending NCAA champion Penn State beat the Gators, 2-0.
FIU, which won the Sun Belt title last season, won 28 matches to reach the NCAA Tournament before losing to Colorado State in the first round of the tournament in Gainesville. Florida State is coming off a 21-9 season in which it finished fifth in the ACC. Miami is coming off a 26-6 season, including 14-6 in the ACC.
The spring season ends April 18 with the second annual SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships at Siesta Key near Sarasota.
SCHEDULE OF MATCHES
Court 1
10 a.m.—Florida vs. Florida International
11 a.m.—Florida vs. Florida State
Noon—Florida vs. Miami
2:30 p.m.—Florida vs. Miami
3:30 p.m.—Florida vs. Florida International
4:30 p.m.—Florida vs. Florida State
Court 2
10 a.m.—Florida State vs. Miami
11 a.m.—Florida International vs. Miami
Noon—Florida International vs. Florida State
2:30 p.m.—Florida State vs. Florida International
3:30 p.m.—Miami vs. Florida State
4:30 p.m.—Miami vs. Florida International