Florida got a scare from Auburn on Sunday afternoon in Auburn, Ala., being taken to a fifth set for only the second time this season.
Nevertheless, the No. 1 Gators (22-1, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) escaped with a 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11) win over the Tigers (17-11, 8-8).
“I thought Auburn played such high-level volleyball,” coach Mary Wise said. “They made our lives difficult. It was not a night where we were clicking on all cylinders but I felt like we grew up a whole lot tonight.”
Down 19-13, the Gators rallied to take the opening set. After dropping the next two, it appeared as though the best team in the nation might fall. However, the Gators fought back to take the fourth and deciding fifth set.
“I just felt like we were a step slow tonight playing a team that was jet fast,” Wise said.
A big reason for the Gators’ comeback was their blocking. Florida out-blocked Auburn 17-10.
“When we’re not in rhythm offensively, at the end of the day it will always come down to blocking,” Wise said. “Blocking can make up for mistakes where we were not as efficient offensively.”
Sophomore opposite hitter Tangerine Wiggs led the Gators with a match-high 10 blocks. Senior middle blocker Lauren Bledsoe followed with nine. Bledsoe also hit .400 with 12 kills and three digs.
“We felt like it was turned around by Lauren’s play in set four,” Wise said. “Lauren went to another level and had the look on her face of a senior who just refused to lose.”
Junior setter Kelly Murphy had 11 kills, 25 assists, five digs, three blocks and two service aces but hit only .133 in the process.
“[Murphy] has been nothing short of magnificent, all-world for us the entire season,” Wise said. “It wasn’t like she had a poor match, but it wasn’t her typical over the top. You got to give Auburn a ton of credit for that.”
Florida hit .244 on the match as Auburn hit .221. The Tigers served the ball with greater accuracy, having nine service aces and 12 service errors compared to the Gators’ four aces and 13 errors.
This was the final match of Florida’s three-match road trip.
“I don’t want to make excuses but this isn’t an easy road trip when you bus it the whole way,” Wise said. “I think we just had to gut it out.”
