After surviving a scare from Western Michigan on Saturday, No. 5 Florida (8-1) has adjustments to make prior to facing No. 16 Florida State (6-3) on Tuesday.
The Gators were able to beat the Broncos in four sets (25–21, 25–22, 28–30, 25–18) but were troubled by mental errors in the process.
“It was tough because Western Michigan played so well,” coach Mary Wise said. “They passed nails. There was a point in the first set where they were passing, from a three-point scale, at a 2.7.”
During the third set, which the Broncos won on an attack error by sophomore outside hitter Gabby Mallette, the Gators failed to close out the match on four different occasions.
At the end of the third set, Florida had service errors from libero Taylor Unroe and defensive specialist Holly Pole.
Although the Broncos had already been swept twice this season, they challenged the Gators by extending and winning points.
Florida committed 13 service errors in the match and had to rely on quick points in order to overcome Western Michigan’s poise.
“It was a long weekend in general,” Ziva Recek said. “We were tired by the end. We had to finish strong and at the end we said, ‘OK, let us finish. Let us finish the game.’”
Throughout the weekend, UF was unable to finish off points. In the first game against Iona on Saturday, the Gators limited the Gaels to only 29 digs.
The Broncos kept more points alive by coming up with 63 digs. Not finishing kills could be a challenge against a Florida State squad that boasts sisters Elise and Nicole Walch, who are each former Under Armour Girls High School All-America selections.
In the Seminoles’ five-set victory against No. 7 Michigan on Saturday, each Walch sister recorded 22 kills. If Florida cannot finish points off early, it could lead to long rallies that benefit the quick-hitting duo.
The key for UF will be the play of Recek. The Slovenia native was named the MVP of the Active Ankle Challenge aftern notching 21 kills and 10 digs against the Broncos.
Florida would like to limit the amount of attacks that Recek attempts. She had 53 attempts against Western Michigan.
Recek, senior middle blocker Chloe Mann and freshman right-side hitter Alex Holston will likely get the bulk of the work against the Seminoles. If the Gators finish points quickly against the Seminoles, they will be thankful to have learned their lesson in a victory against the Broncos.
Follow RJ Schaffer on Twitter @rjschaffer.
Ziva Recek reaches for the ball during Florida’s four-set victory against Western Michigan on Sept. 14 in the O’Connell Center.
