With the match hanging in the balance and Alabama closing in late in the third set, Milica Vidačić rose above the net and slammed the door shut. She delivered the final blows in both the first and third sets, rising to meet the moment each time. Again and again, Vidačić answered.
After a back-and-forth battle full of momentum swings, Florida (5-5) emerged with a 3-1 victory over Alabama (8-4) Sunday night at the Exactech Arena in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Led by freshman opposite hitter Milica Vidačić’s hyper-efficient 18 kills on a .485 hitting percentage and a clutch 24-kill performance from sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Byrd, the Gators found a way to close out tight sets with grit and depth across the court.
Florida set the tone early with suffocating net play, led by sophomore middle blocker Alec Rothe and Vidačić, who combined for six blocks respectively on the night. Their chemistry was evident, and their synergy stifled Alabama’s hitters, creating easy transition points.
Florida’s sophomore middle blocker Jaela Auguste added her presence as well, both offensively and defensively. She logged 11 kills and a team-high five blocks.
Despite dropping the second set and giving away several easy points on rotation errors, missed blocks and long swings, the Gators prevailed.
Jordyn Byrd led the offensive charge with a match-high 24 kills. The sophomore outside hitter was Florida’s go-to option when the team needed to stop a run or regain momentum.
Her ability to score out of tough situations, particularly late in the third and fourth sets, helped keep Alabama at bay. When things got tight, Florida leaned on Byrd, and she delivered.
For Alabama, graduate student outside hitter Victoria Barrett added 15 digs and three blocks to go with six kills. However, she struggled offensively, hitting .000 on 40 attempts. Still, her back-row presence and energy were key in extending plays and challenging Florida’s attackers.
“It takes a team effort to hold [Barrett] to zero,” said head coach Ryan Theis.
Additionally, AL junior outside hitter Kaleigh Palmer was a bright spot. She led the Crimson Tide with 16 kills while hitting .303, consistently posing a threat throughout the match.
The Gators’ grit was shown during long rallies, where freshman libero Lily Hayes collected 12 digs and made several momentum-shifting saves. Her character was especially shown during the third set when Alabama made a late push.
Her relentless hustle in the back row helped extend rallies and gave the Gators crucial second chances in high-pressure moments. In the fourth set, with Hayes’ help, Florida put the match to rest 25-21.
Next, the Gators play against Auburn (10-2) at the Exatech Arena Friday at 7 p.m.
“Come out and support these guys,” said Theis. “They need fans and support. They’re a really young group, so the more energy they can get helping them in our audience, the better.”
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isis_snoww.
Isis is a junior sports journalism student and is the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. This is her third semester with The Alligator. She enjoys reading, playing basketball and weight lifting in her free time.
