Florida’s next opponent, Tennessee, may have only won a single match out of 14 Southeastern Conference contests this season, but the Gators are not quick to write this team off as a win — and with good reason.
Florida (24-3, 13-2 Southeastern Conference) will travel to play UT (9-19, 1-13 SEC) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The last time the two teams met, UF won all three sets (25-13, 25-21, 25-15) with ease.
This was not the case last year, as the Volunteers upset the Gators at home in five sets.
Tennessee has claimed seven victories against the Gators in the 46 matches that Mary Wise has coached the team through in the series. On Monday, she expressed concern about her team’s tight schedule leading up to this week’s matches.
The trip to Knoxville, Tenn., will mark the fourth of five matches in a 10-day stretch.
“We’ve never had a schedule where we played Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, Friday. It just hasn’t happened,” Wise said. “With the expansion of the league, this was a schedule that had to be put together quickly, and in the future, we won’t have to have this challenge.
“Now, as we’ve said, ask the players: They’re fine with it. Let’s just play, forget the practices.”
Less practice time could affect the Gators when they face off against the rested and confident Volunteers. Although the last time Tennessee won was when it swept South Carolina on Oct. 25, it was one set away from victory in its last match.
Tennessee fell in a five-set thriller (25-13, 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 13-15) against LSU at home Sunday and is on a six-game losing streak.
“We just prepare for every team the same. We watch video on them, we scout them,” sophomore middle blocker Simone Antwi said. “Anybody could win. The SEC is pretty competitive … nothing’s different, no matter how many wins they have.”
As of Nov. 18, Florida was listed at No. 4 in the NCAA's RPI rankings, ahead of No. 5 Missouri and No. 179 Tennessee.
A win in Tennessee would be Florida’s 25th of the season and mark the team’s 23rd consecutive 25-win season.
The Gators will finish up their 10-day stretch of five matches in with their final SEC home match of the season. Redshirt senior Chloe Mann and senior Taylor Brauneis will be honored before Friday’s match against LSU at 7 p.m.
“Challenge is for the coaches,” Wise said. “Especially the travel on Wednesday and play at home on Friday, but lot’s of incentive to play well on Friday.”
Follow Erica A. Hernandez on Twitter @EricaAlyssa.
Sophomore middle blocker Simone Antwi spikes the ball during the Gators' 3-0 loss to the Tigers on Friday night in the O'Connell Center.
