Florida came out swinging in the third set after taking the first two, jumping to a quick 6-0 lead. Although Arkansas clawed back to tie it several times, the Gators’ commanding offense proved too much, closing out the frame and sealing the sweep.
The Gators (11-7, 6-3 SEC) powered past Arkansas (5-15, 1-8 SEC) in straight sets, using a fast start and balanced offense to secure their sixth conference win of the season Sunday afternoon at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Florida controlled each frame but had to fend off a late Razorback rally in the third before sealing the sweep.
Florida blew an early six-point lead. The teams were neck and neck, trading kills with each serve. With little breathing room, Florida was able to end the match after a series of clutch aces by sophomore setter Taylor Parks.
Sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Byrd led Florida’s attack, ending with 16 kills on a .238 hitting percentage. In the first set, she logged six kills, showcasing her versatility with a mix of roll shots, tips and powerful swings from the outside.
Another key part of Florida’s success came from its emphasis on the middle attack. Sophomore middle blockers Jaela Auguste and Alec Rothe worked together, combining for 18 kills on 30 attempts.
The duo’s efficiency set the tone for Florida’s attack. Auguste hit a .421 hitting percentage with 11 kills and three blocks, while Rothe was even sharper at .455 with seven kills and three blocks.
Junior setter Alexis Stucky, who finished with 44 assists, continued to spread the ball evenly across the net, keeping Arkansas off balance and forcing one-on-one matchups at the net. She also logged an impressive 12 digs, marking this as her fourth consecutive double-double.
Freshman libero Lily Hayes continues to make her presence known, with 24 digs in this match, covering over a third of the team's 65 digs.
The Razorbacks thrived on contributions from their freshmen. Arkansas opposite hitter Sydney Maue contributed five kills and helped secure crucial points defensively with two block assists.
In the match’s longest rally during the second set, Maue delivered the clutch set-tying kill that energized her teammates and gave Arkansas a surge of momentum.
However, the Razorbacks lost that set, 25-22, and were plagued by an inability to capitalize offensively. They finished the matchup with a .122 hitting percentage and committed several unforced errors.
Meanwhile, Florida limited its mistakes, committing just 17 attack errors compared to Arkansas’ 32, giving the Gators a clear advantage in key moments.
For Florida, the sweep highlighted the effectiveness of its middle attack, but there were still areas to tighten, particularly minimizing errors and improving consistency on swings outside the middle.
The Gators’ next matchup is against the Bulldogs (14-5, 6-3 SEC) in Athens, Georgia, at 7 p.m. Friday.
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.
