At set point in the fifth set, Alec Rothe threw her arms up at the net and did what she had done all match for Florida: show up.
After putting up a career-high 17 kills against the Longhorns, the middle blocker stopped Cari Spears' aggressive hit to propel the Gators to a much-needed victory over Texas.
The No. 7 Gators (15-2, 6-1 SEC) survived the No. 12 Longhorns (9-7, 5-3) in a five-set thriller Sunday night in Gregory Gymnasium. The defeat marks Texas’ first home loss of the 2026 season.
Florida and Texas traded points early in the fifth set before Logan King shifted the tone. After recording consecutive kills to give the Gators a 7-6 lead on a 3-0 run, the outside hitter didn't stop there. King handed the Longhorns a service ace to extend Florida’s lead by two.
Texas quickly responded with a cross kill from Henley Anderson to tie the set at 8-8, but Jordyn Byrd put the Gators back in the lead with a decisive hit. Rothe extended Florida’s advantage, logging her 17th kill of the night with a hit to the middle at 11-9.
It was smooth sailing for the Gators from there, taking four of the final five points behind kills from King and Karmryn Chaney, an unforced error by Texas and Rothe’s game-winning block.
Throughout the match, Florida showed it can consistently find opportunities in the middle, but so did Texas. Outside hitter Spears got her second kill with a hit from the middle to put the Longhorns up 14-11. She proved to be a key player for Texas on Sunday, recording the second-most kills with 13.
But with the middle being one of Florida’s specialties, the Gators didn't fall behind.
Middle blocker Brooklyn Briscoe was consistent at the net, putting up points for Florida. As it crept closer to tying the first set, Briscoe recorded back-to-back blocks to put Florida up 18-15. She came out of the match with five blocks and six kills
Despite Briscoe’s impressive night, Rothe was Florida’s most impactful weapon against the Longhorns. Logging three kills in the first five points of the second set, the middle blocker showed up for the Gators when it was most crucial. Behind Rothe’s efforts, Florida was able to slow Texas’ offense down, keeping its hitting clip at .143, while the Gators carried a .433 hitting percentage.
After the match was tied at 1-1, Florida needed a refresher in the third.
But as Florida led at 24-23, the Gators got too comfortable with their advantage. Behind a kill by Nya Bunton and a block and a kill from Torrey Stafford, Texas ended the set on a 3-0 run.
The Gators opened the fourth set on a 4-0 run, but the lead didn’t last long. After trading points with the Gators, Texas was able to rely on Spears’ hot hand. She hit .346, a huge difference from her last 12 matches, where she had a .070 hitting clip.
The former All-SEC first-team selection finished the match with 13 kills and three blocks. She trailed only three-time All-American Stafford in kills. Stafford posted a double-double on the night with 14 kills and 14 digs.
Florida built the biggest gap of the set at 18-14, but the lead quickly dissipated as Texas went on a 6-0 run late.
Stafford then stepped up with a back-row attack that put Texas up 21-19. She couldn't be stopped on the ensuing play either, as she logged a cross kill.
Rothe and King tried to flip the script with a kill each, and Chaney tied it with a deep kill to put the score at 23-23. The Gators’ efforts were rewarded, as Florida won the fourth set on a 4-0 run.
The Gators return to Gainesville to host Louisiana State on Friday. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida has taken down the Tigers in 25 of the programs’ last 27 meetings.
Contact Sofia Alamo at salamo@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @alamosofiaa.
Sofia Alamo is a sophomore sports journalism student in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She is the volleyball beat reporter. She enjoys spending time with family and watching sports with friends.
