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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Florida advances to Sweet 16 versus Ohio State

Gators swept Morehead State in NCAA second round

<p>Outside hitter Thayer Hall celebrates in home match against Kentucky last season. This year, Hall was named&nbsp;<span id="docs-internal-guid-186ea90d-7fff-8dd4-261c-1cfd649054bb"><span>to the All-SEC Preseason Team.</span></span></p>

Outside hitter Thayer Hall celebrates in home match against Kentucky last season. This year, Hall was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team.

Morehead State proved how gritty it played in the second set after it struggled in the opening frame. Trailing by nine points, the Eagles grinded out tough rallies and chased balls into their bench and bleachers to trim Florida’s lead to four. 

Gators outside hitter Thayer Hall found a vacancy in the opponent’s defense to record a kill. Hall and middle blocker Lauren Forte then tagged-teamed to stuff a Morehead State swing. Florida snagged the 25-19 second-set victory after the Eagles’ Olivia Lohmeier serve went long. 

This propelled Florida to sweep Morehead State Thursday at CHI Health Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Florida’s depth carried UF to a five-point lead into the first set media timeout. The Gators boast nine players who tower the Eagles’ second-tallest player, who measures at 6 feet, 1 inch. Hall’s swing velocity helped the Gators cruise to a 25-14 first-set win. 

Four Hall kills led Florida in that category, and the team recorded a .375 hitting percentage. The Gators’ defense also added three blocks and held Morehead State to a subpar .074. 

They wrote the same story in the second set, but Morehead State threw punches back and answered each UF run. But the Gators lead overwhelmed as they took a two-set advantage into the third set. 

Redshirt senior outside hitter Holly Carlton registered four kills to lead the team. Florida’s hitting percentage dipped to .324 after a red-hot first set. 

After the match, Carlton said it was key to avoid dropping a set to curb Morehead State’s momentum. 

The Eagles defense improved as the match wore on. It held the orange and blue to a sub .300 hitting percentage in the final frame. 

Each team traded the lead like a swing set until the score reached 15 apiece. The Gators pioneered four-straight scores and never relinquished the lead. They won the third set 25-19 and secured the sweep.

Florida tallied a .303 hitting percentage and added eight service aces. It limited  Morehead State to below .100 and rejected eight swings. 

Hall led UF with kills (10) and logged 11 digs for her third double-double this season. Carlton and Forte finished second on the team with nine kills each. 

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Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, coach Mary Wise wasn’t sure when they will prepare for the next match versus No. 9-seeded Ohio State. The uncertainty wouldn’t have been an issue in previous tournaments because of current COVID-19 protocols.  

Wise added that the Buckeyes will be tough to beat because they play clean volleyball. The Gators advance to the Sweet 16 where they will face Ohio State Sunday. The time for the match is yet to be announced and will stream on ESPN3. 

Contact Zachary Huber at zhuber@alligatorg.org and follow him on Twitter @zacharyahuber



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