LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior libero Elyse Cusack moved into second place on the Southeastern Conference’s career digs list and four Gators recorded double-figure kills in Florida’s 3-1 (31-29, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21) victory over No. 10 Kentucky Sunday at the Memorial Coliseum.
Cusack had a season-high 33 digs to increase her career total to 2,055 scoops. Monday she was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Florida (21-5, 15-4 SEC) out-blocked the Wildcats 10.0-7.0, the eighth time this season the Gators reached double figures. Four Gators had double-figure kills, marking the 12th time this season that three or more players have reached the plateau in the same contest.
“I think this was just a great match of high-level volleyball,” Florida head coach Mary Wise said. “It was two very good teams battling with such great rallies. We feel very fortunate to have won and have to give credit to a good Kentucky team that really battled without its senior setter (Sarah Rumely) for most of the match.”
Rumely still finished with 40 assists despite missing the last set and part of the third set because of illness. The match featured two sets that went overtime, a total of 33 tie scores and 14 lead changes. The victory by Florida avenged a 3-2 loss to Kentucky earlier this season in Gainesville.
Sophomore outside hitter Colleen Ward had a team-high 14 kills on .325 hitting with a career-high 18 digs to mark her fourth double-double of the season. Junior right-side Lauren Bledsoe was a force in the middle and on the right, recording 13 kills on .345 hitting with a season-high five blocks.
Sophomore outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel had 12 kills and 13 digs for her ninth double-double of the year. Junior outside hitter Callie Rivers had a season-high 11 kills with eight digs and three block assists.
Sophomore right-side/setter Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) charted a career-high 43 assists as the Gators used a 5-1 offense for the majority of the contest.
Becky Pavan had a match-high 17 kills on .364 hitting to lead Kentucky (27-3, 17-2 SEC).
Florida returns to action Friday against South Carolina in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 4 p.m.