Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Redshirt freshman midfielder Nicole Vernis fights for a ball at Florida’s home opener against Georgia this season. Vernis scored her first collegiate goal versus South Carolina Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | SOCCER

No. 11 South Carolina dominates shorthanded Florida

By Bryan Matamoros | Oct. 25, 2020

An already difficult matchup at No. 11 South Carolina was even tougher for Florida with the absence of coach Becky Burleigh, who stayed back in Gainesville due to COVID-19 contact tracing. A shorthanded Gators team proved no match for the Gamecocks, who came away with a comfortable 4-2 victory at Stone Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday.

Freshman Ben Shelton walks alongside doubles teammate Will Grant after dropping a match, 8-7, against Auburn on Oct. 2 at the Tiger Fall Invitational in Auburn, Alabama.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Family Court: Another Shelton joins the Florida tennis program

By Ryan Haley | Oct. 25, 2020

Lisa Shelton has always seen her son as a vivacious child, someone who spent a majority of his time outside.

Forward Deanne Rose fights for a ball at Florida's game against Georgia earlier this season. The senior's return will be a key factor in the Gators' game against South Carolina Sunday.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators prepare for another ranked foe in No. 11 South Carolina

By Bryan Matamoros | Oct. 25, 2020

Granted, this season’s schedule includes fixtures only against SEC opponents due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But Florida’s heartbreaking loss to Vanderbilt in double overtime last weekend marked the first time since 2018 that coach Becky Burleigh’s team dropped back-to-back conference games.

Junior Fred Biondi practices at Mark Bostick Golf Course. Biondi competed in Switzerland this past weekend, helping Team International win the Arnold Palmer Cup.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators return to action in Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate

By Michael Hull | Oct. 24, 2020

The Florida Gators men’s golf team is back on the course this week, competing in the Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate in Franklin, Tennessee.

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask drops back in the Gators' home game versus Tennessee last season. In 2020, Trask has completed 71.9% of his passes, thrown 14 touchdowns to just one interception and is averaging 9.7 yards per attempt.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

The Gators offense is elite, but you already knew that

By Brendan Farrell | Oct. 24, 2020

The Gators have been must-watch television in 2020, for better or worse. The shootouts that used to be contained to just the Big 12 have migrated to the SEC and made their way to Gainesville. Florida has scored at least 30 points in six of its last seven games dating back to last season.

Gate 1 of Florida Ballpark. The new stadium, located next to Donald R. Dizney Stadium along Hull Road, has a capacity of over 7,000.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball plays first two scrimmages in new stadium

By Ryan Haley | Oct. 23, 2020

The Florida baseball team took the field for the first time this season during two in-team scrimmages on Thursday and Friday. Both returning and new Gators showcased their talents, but the real star was the brand new Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field.

UF redshirt senior Holly Carlton highlighted her team’s focus on controlling serves.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators 2-0 after impressive start against Auburn

By Noah Ram | Oct. 23, 2020

Despite an unconventional, pandemic-hindered offseason, the Gators hit the court for the first time Wednesday. Everything suddenly felt conventional that night in Auburn, Alabama, though, including the win.

Outside hitter Paige Hammons at the Gators' home game against Texas A&M last season. In Florida's second game against Auburn Thursday, Hammons contributed six kills off the bench.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Carlton and Hammons step up as UF sweeps Auburn

By Noah Ram | Oct. 23, 2020

Thayer Hall raised her hitting percentage from .198 to .250 in 2019. She has struggled through the Gators’ first two matches this season, leaving coach Mary Wise to find a way to replace her production.

Senior captains Duarte Vale (pictured) and Sam Riffice won eleven of their twelve total matches in their Fall 2020 debut. They look to ride that momentum into South Carolina this weekend.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators travel to South Carolina for second event of fall season

By Ryan Haley | Oct. 22, 2020

Florida men’s tennis heads to Columbia, South Carolina, this weekend for the Gamecock Fall SEC Shootout, which will take place Oct. 23-25. The team will play against hosts South Carolina along with Georgia and Texas A&M.

Outside hitter Thayer Hall at UF's game against LSU last season. Hall combined with redshirt senior T'ara Ceasar for 20 of the Gators' 33 kills Wednesday night against Auburn.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Ceasar and Hall shine in Gators debut against Auburn

By Zachary Huber | Oct. 21, 2020

T’ara Ceasar traded in her red and black for the orange and blue on Nov. 19, 2018, and ever since she stepped foot in Florida’s gymnasium, her teammates and coaches have raved about her.

Coach Emily Bastel Glasser at Mark Bostick Golf Course. Glasser was pleased with the young talent on the Gators golf team after their showing at The Ally at Old Waverly.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators finish sixth at The Ally

By Michael Hull | Oct. 21, 2020

The Gators women’s golf team came in sixth place in The Ally at Old Waverly, shooting a collective 6-over-par for the tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Full non-conference slate set for Florida men's basketball

By Evan Lepak | Oct. 21, 2020

All of the puzzle pieces were placed, and UF's nine-game, non-conference schedule has officially been confirmed after Wednesday's announcements by the program.

Junior Keyontae Johnson (left) and sophomore Scottie Lewis (right) at the Gators' game against Arkansas last season. They are among Florida's returning defensive leaders this season.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators look to play faster offensively, more selfless defensively

By Graham Marsh | Oct. 21, 2020

Extend the pressure, increase the speed.

The Gators fell six spots in the team rankings during the second day of competition at The Ally at Old Waverly.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators fall to seventh in The Ally

By Michael Hull | Oct. 20, 2020

The Gators women’s golf team fell from first to seventh place after shooting a collective 13-over-par in the second round of The Ally at Old Waverly Tuesday.

Outside hitter Thayer Hall celebrates in home match against Kentucky last season. This year, Hall was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida kicks off its season against Tigers

By Zachary Huber | Oct. 20, 2020

The Gators play their first match Wednesday after six months of holding meetings on Zoom and completing workouts at home hundreds of miles away from each other.

Senior Addie Baggalry is currently tied for second individually with teammate Marina Escobar Domingo after one full day of competition at The Ally at Old Waverly.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators take early lead in The Ally

By Michael Hull | Oct. 19, 2020

The Gators women’s golf team currently is in first place at The Ally at Old Waverly.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators pick up Michigan transfer Minnich for 2021

By Sara Kate Dyson | Oct. 19, 2020

Florida’s women’s swimming and diving team officially announced on Monday that it’s welcoming a new swimmer to the 2020-21 squad.

The Gators lost, 2-1, in double overtime to the Vanderbilt Commodores Sunday evening. This marks the first time Florida has lost back-to-back SEC matches since 2018.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Goal line scramble sees Vanderbilt edge Florida in overtime

By Declan Walsh | Oct. 18, 2020

In an unorthodox season full of cancellations and quarantines, Florida’s historic dominance on “pink day” was foiled by the Vanderbilt Commodores.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators look to ride momentum into Old Waverly

By Michael Hull | Oct. 18, 2020

On Monday, the UF women’s golf team will travel to West Point, Mississippi, to compete in The Ally at Old Waverly. The Gators look to build off their performance at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, where they finished sixth out of 14.

Both Gators squads finished in the top eight at the FSU Invitational Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Teams falter, new UF star shines in last regular season meet

By Myles Herbert | Oct. 17, 2020

Both Gators cross country teams finished in the bottom half of their respective races at the Blazer Classic Friday, with the men finishing sixth and the women finishing ninth.