Special report on the Florida Gators volleyball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 11th-ranked Florida volleyball team swept Liberty on Friday afternoon to kick off the Gators Invitational.
The Gators took the first set 25-21 and followed up with a 25-17 victory in the second frame. Florida closed out the match with a 25-12 win in the third set.
The Gators registered a .398 clip on the afternoon, racking up 42 kills. Rachael Kramer led the attack with 12 kills, while Thayer Hall and Paige Hammons pitched in 10 apiece.
Holly Carlton added seven kills in the match.
Marlie Monserez dished out 36 assists on the afternoon, leading Florida in assists for the ninth-straight match.
Allie Gregory posted a team-high 10 digs, while Monserez pitched in seven of her own.
Florida garnered nine blocks on the afternoon, led by five from Lauren Dooley. Rachael Kramer and Paige Hammons added in four apiece.
The Gators is back in action Friday evening at 7 p.m. against Northern Arizona.
Records
No. 11 Florida (7-2)
Liberty (5-5)
How it Happened
* Liberty got out to the early 6-4 lead in the first set, but the Gators went on a run behind the serves of Chanelle Hargreaves, taking the 8-7 lead. The Flames once again pushed ahead at 15-13, but UF battled back to take the 22-18 lead late. Liberty got to within two at 23-21, but a Thayer Hall kill and a Liberty attack error secured the set victory for Florida.
* Florida hit .393 in the first set, racking up 15 kills along the way. Paige Hammons led the way with five, while Rachael Kramer and Thayer Hall both pitched in four apiece.
* Florida jumped out to the 9-4 advantage in the second set, behind a service run by Holly Carlton. Florida controlled the momentum the rest of the way, holding as much as an eight-point lead at 17-9. The Flames cut Florida’s lead to six at 21-15, but the Gators closed out the frame on a 4-2 run to take the 2-0 lead in the match.
* The Gators hit .464 in the second set, recording 15 kills in the frame. Kramer led the way with five, while Paige Hammons, Holly Carlton and Thayer Hall both registered three apiece.
* Florida held all the control in the third set, taking the 17-7 lead thanks in part to two service runs by Allie Gregory. The Gators held onto at least an eight-point lead the rest of way, securing the match on a Liberty service error.
* UF hit .333 in the final set of the day, recording 12 kills in the frame. Rachael Kramer, Thayer Hal and Holly Carlton all recorded three kills in the set.
Notables
* Florida has now won five-straight matches, all at home
* The Gators improve to 2-0 against the Flames
* UF is now 2-0 in three set matches against Liberty
* Florida is now 2-0 against Liberty in Gainesville, Fla.
* The Gators move to 515-67 in Gainesville, Fla.
Up Next
* Florida is back in action at 7 p.m. to face Northern Arizona
* The match will have radio coverage on ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM
No. 11 Florida vs. Northern Arizona Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Friday, Sept. 20 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats: Sidearm<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sidearmstats_wvball_summary&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=cN37d9n1IZgxSv8pvcI8DQqk4RdWCMie0VmWeWA4gcE&s=WSR4VEmBu92P9hQ3EdxoV6FvDWLUBfBsXdn2tw8bgG8&e= > | Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM<http://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 11 Florida vs. Northern Arizona
* This is the second meeting between the two schools
* Florida trails: 0-1 (0-1 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 0-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-1
* Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-1 | Neutral: 0-0
* Last Time Out: Sept. 7, 2018 | Flagstaff, Ariz. | L, 2-3 (19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 13-15)
TICKET INFO | Gator Ticket Office Online<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2015_12_10_-5Ftickets-5Fvolleyball-5F.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=cN37d9n1IZgxSv8pvcI8DQqk4RdWCMie0VmWeWA4gcE&s=TktPTz-PJWOGPUA60kJO2kzpq6V2JPIfGkcBD-4nuPQ&e= > | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Season Ticket Prices:
* Reserved (Sections 09*, 11*, 13*, 15*, 23, 25, 27, 29) – $50 [all ages]
* General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $35 [ages 13 and up]
* Courtside Season Pass (subject to availability) – $150 [all ages]
* Loge Seating (subject to availability) [in front of the Sideline Club] – $75 [all ages]
Single-Match Ticket Prices:
* Reserved (Sections 09*, 11*, 13*, 15*, 23, 25, 27, 29) | $6 [all ages]
* General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) | $4 [ages 13 and up] / FREE [ages 12 and under]
* Student General Admission – FREE [with valid Gator1 ID]