Right-side attacker Holly Carlton stood against the net as Florida waited on a serve from LSU tied 21-all in the first set.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore watched intently as the ball left the palm of Lindsay Flory and traveled just over the net to Florida libero Allie Gregory.
Carlton swiftly maneuvered to the middle front, watching the pass arch over her right shoulder. She started her rhythmic approach toward the middle of the net, waiting on a set from Allie Monserez.
Her feet fluttered against the floor. Right, left, right, left they tapped. SMACK!
Carlton’s left hand contacted the ball violently as she sent it flying past the Tigers’ defense on the right side of the court.
Point Florida.
This was just one of Carlton’s 10 kills that helped lead the No. 11 Gators to a victory over the LSU on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in another SEC sweep.
LSU (5-9, 0-3 SEC) challenged Florida from the first serve to the last, despite the sweep at home. Consistent play, a lack of service errors and using pin attackers on both sides of the court kept the hope of the Tigers securing their first conference victory at home alive.
LSU racked up more swings, kills and digs than Florida. But the difference in Wednesday night’s match came in hitting and service errors, service aces and blocks.
The Gators (12-3, 3-0 SEC) put their trust in Carlton and freshman outside hitter Thayer Hall to lead the offense, logging 21 kills on 52 swings combined.
Carlton and junior middle blocker Rachael Kramer put up a wall against the Tigers’ left-side pin hitters at the net. Together, the 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 duo contributed five blocks each.
Senior middle blocker Taelor Kellum also had a successful night of her own, notching the highest kill percentage on Florida’s roster (.636 percent) with seven kills on 11 swings and only one error.
From the service line, Hall and Gregory took control with a combined four aces, serving up two apiece.
Florida’s block and defense were crucial to stopping the likes of LSU’s Milan Stokes and Taylor Bannister. Stokes led the match in kills (12) with Bannister tied for second-highest on the leaderboard (11).
The Tigers’ consistency showed in the first two sets with the sets often going point for point, but eventually disintegrated as Florida edged closer to the 25-point mark in the third set.
LSU lost control, and thus suffered their ninth loss of the 2018 season.
Florida will use the momentum from Wednesday night’s victory as the team hits the road for its fourth conference play matchup against Crimson Tide (13-2, 1-1 SEC) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Sunday afternoon.
Follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari or contact her at mfaiello@alligator.org.
