The Swamp runs blue on Sunday as No. 3 Kentucky (11-2, 3-0 SEC) enters the Stephen C. O’Connell Center to take on the No. 7 Gators (11-1, 2-0 SEC).
Kentucky is the highest-ranked opponent to venture the O’Dome since the then-No. 1 Wisconsin conquered the Gators in five on Sept. 17, 2023. As learned from that contest, Florida will need more than a valiant effort to scrape up a win.
On Friday, the Gators swept the Vols in their SEC home opener.
Florida has one of the strongest defenses in the SEC, leading the conference in blocks per set (2.78) and ranking second in opponent hitting percentage (.161).
It will be up to junior middle blocker Alec Rothe and senior middle blocker Brooklyn Briscoe to anchor the net against a high-powered Kentucky offense, and they will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them.
Rothe leads the Gators in blocks this season (53), just shy of Kentucky redshirt senior middle blocker Lizzie Carr’s 54. Carr was named SEC Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after her performances against Vanderbilt and Texas. She had 1.71 blocks per set on the week as Kentucky kicked off SEC play (2-0).
Similarly, Briscoe follows Rothe in blocks (36) and junior middle blocker Kennedy Washington sits behind Carr for Kentucky with 46.
Florida’s front-row forces will be put to the test against the strongest offense in the SEC, with Kentucky sitting second nationally with 14.82 kills per set. The Wildcats now trail Ball State by less than .004 kills per set.
Senior outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye has posted an impressive 198 kills for the Wildcats this season and will line up against Florida outside hitter Kamryn Chaney, who has paced the Gators with 146 kills.
The Gators will have to give it their all if they want a chance at tackling the Wildcats for their second SEC home win of the week, and another packed arena could be what helps them get there.
“I had the chance to play internationally, but nothing has compared to the O’Dome,” Florida junior opposite hitter Logan King said Friday. “Just the love and support from the fans I think is incredible, and I’m so excited to hopefully see that again on Sunday.”
Against the Gators’ most recent opponent, King notched a season-high 15 kills and three service aces. She’s been a cornerstone of Florida’s offense, but said volleyball isn’t an individual sport — it takes the whole team and the fans.
A lively crowd could be what amps up the Gators enough to clinch their next victory. Still, Florida will need to be on its A game and strike early in order to make some waves against Kentucky.
First serve between the Gators and Wildcats is scheduled for Sunday at 8:30 p.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Contact Nicole Scura at nscura@alligator.org. Follow her on X @NicoleScuraa.
Nicole Scura is a junior journalism student in her third semester at The Alligator. She is currently a volleyball beat reporter and previously served as hockey beat and enterprise reporters. In her free time she enjoys figure skating, traveling and watching football (Go Bucs!).
