During the past 13 years, the Gators have gone to the NCAA tournament every season and have won the Southeastern Conference 11 times.
Many great players have taken the O’Connell Center court during that time, but after 13 years of Heather Wright holding the UF record for hitting percentage, senior Chloe Mann set a new mark on Saturday.
Mann seized the record by hitting an errorless .583 with seven kills against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in No. 4 Florida’s (11-1) three-set sweep.
“That’s something that’s pretty amazing to do,” assistant coach David Boos said. “Not only the fact that Chloe did it, but what she does for us in terms of daily.”
It took 1,200 attempts for Mann to be eligible for the record. She reached the mark Saturday. Wright had a career hitting percentage of .424; Mann is currently hitting at .465 for her career.
Even though Mann had an impressive season last year — she was named SEC Player of the Year and a 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American — she may be playing even better in her final season for the Gators.
She currently ranks No. 4 in the nation in hitting percentage at .504. The numbers are impressive considering the amount of attacks Mann takes.
Out of the top 50 players in the nation, only 25 have taken more than 200 attacks through Sept. 23.
Mann has taken 234 attacks.
“She has given balls for us that other girls just don’t get.” Boos said. “She has more attempts than other middles have and more kills because we force the ball to her so much.”
“To be forced the ball and kill the number at that high of a rate and have that high of a percentage is pretty amazing.”
Follow RJ Schaffer on Twitter @rjschaffer.
Junior middle blocker Chloe Mann hits the ball over the net in Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.
