At the end of the third set, the Gators seemed to have all the momentum. Leading two sets to one, Florida played an aggressive offense that spread the ball across the court. An upset seemed to be on the horizon.
But the Wildcats wouldn’t go down swinging.
In a decisive fifth set, Florida (10-7, 5-3 SEC) lost to No. 3 Kentucky (14-2, 11-0 SEC), adding to its 11-game undefeated run Sunday afternoon at the Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.
Leading the charge for Kentucky were senior outside hitter Eva Hudson and junior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, who sent the match to a fifth set. The two combined for 41 kills, solidifying their spot as a daunting duo in the SEC.
Florida came off a three-game winning streak and defeated No. 16 Tennessee on the road Wednesday. In this long-standing rivalry, UF’s last win in Kentucky was on November 1, 2017 where the Gators won in straight sets securing the SEC title that year.
The Gators’ Achilles heel was their errors, accumulating 12 more hitting errors than their opponent and hindering them from capitalizing on their higher attack volume.
UF’s attackers, led by sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Byrd, got off to a slow start and finished with 17 kills on 57 swings for a .105 hitting percentage. Though she struggled to find a rhythm early on, Byrd still managed to contribute 18.5 points and while staying aggressive throughout the match.
The most consistent offensive weapon for the Gators was sophomore middle blocker Alec Rothe, who led her team with a .357 hitting percentage on 14 kills. Her presence at the net was the difference-maker, adding seven total blocks and showing strong two-way play.
Defensively, the trio of libero and defensive specialists, freshman Lily Hayes, senior Emily Canaan and freshman Ella Vogel, were effective. Combining for 46 digs and led by Hayes, the unit showed strong court coverage and communication, helping keep long rallies alive and limiting Kentucky’s clean kills.
However, Kentucky’s all-around team contributed to its victory. Tying in kills with five, junior middle blocker Lizzie Carr and sophomore outside hitter Asia Thigpen made plays on both sides of the ball. Their wall-like blocks proved impenetrable.
The setters on each team were pivotal in anchoring the game. Florida’s junior setter Alexis Stucky ran a balanced offense with 42 assists, seven kills, 11 digs and three blocks. She showed confidence attacking on second contact with quick-setting dumps and controlled the flow even when hitters struggled to find a rhythm.
For Kentucky, freshman setter Kassie O’Brien had 42 assists, two aces, 10 digs and four blocks. Her precision and decision-making helped Kentucky maintain a smoother offense and higher team hitting efficiency, .201 to Florida’s .120.
In the end, Florida’s offensive firepower and defensive hustle weren’t enough to outlast Kentucky’s balance and efficiency. The Wildcats’ ability to limit errors and stay composed under pressure proved decisive, especially in the final two sets.
The Gators look ahead to their next conference opponent, Oklahoma (12-5, 4-3 SEC), in the Exactech Arena in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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.
