Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Dan Mullen stressed that even with no conference wins, Missouri remains a tough opponent. "They probably have the best quarterback in the league," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF seeks to erase 2014 Homecoming memory

By Morgan McMullen and Norgan McMullen | Nov. 2, 2018

Even the touchdowns were pitiful.

Middle blocker Rachael Kramer led the Gators with only seven kills in their 3-0 sweep at the hands of Tennessee on Wednesday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators swept by No. 12 Kentucky in SEC matchup

By Dylan Rudolph | Oct. 31, 2018

Kentucky’s Brook Morgan fired a serve over the net in the third set that came careening down right between Florida’s Paige Hammons and Allie Gregory.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

UF has adjusted its attitude from a year ago

By Mark Stine | Oct. 31, 2018

Linebacker David Reese had to issue a wake-up call around this time last year.

Redshirt sophomore Holly Carlton (right) was convinced by freshman Thayer Hall (middle) to transfer to the University of Florida.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball prepares for rival matchup in Kentucky

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 31, 2018

A little over a year ago Florida’s volleyball players took the court at the O’Connell Center with a calm and humble demeanor in a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats. They carried their undefeated record onto the floor with a solemn sense of duty.

Florida goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese decided to play soccer in college rather than volleyball.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida stuns No. 1 seed Vanderbilt to advance to semifinals

By River Wells | Oct. 31, 2018

The Florida Gators’ sideline stormed onto the field when time ran out, cheering and shouting as subs greeted the players on the pitch. A Vanderbilt player sat defeated on the grass, weeping into her shirt as the Commodores’ SEC Tournament appearance came to an end Tuesday night.

Florida forward Dontay Bassett appeared in 61 games in three years with the program.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators ride balanced effort in exhibition with Mocs

By Chris O'Brien | Oct. 31, 2018

Mike Okauru ran his defender directly into Dontay Bassett’s pick, a screen play that would make Steven Spielberg jealous.

Cornerback CJ Henderson (right) exited Saturday’s game against Georgia with a lower back injury. Coach Dan Mullen said the sophomore didn’t sustain any structural damage.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Henderson not missing time, will be ready for Drew Lock and Missouri

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 31, 2018

It seemed like a routine tackle at first.

Junior right fielder Austin Langworthy hammered a grand slam in Sunday’s games against USF.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators split exhibition matchup in Lakeland against USF

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 29, 2018

Austin Langworthy’s eyes never left the ball. They stayed glued to the pitch as it traveled from the mound, off his aluminum bat and as it sailed over the right-center field wall.

Florida coach Mike White said center Kevarrius Hayes is the only player devoting 100-percent effort to rebounding. “He’s been asked to go, it’s his job," White said, "Kevarrius Hayes - and he’s hard to block out because he goes 10 out of 10 times.”

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Optimism surrounds Florida as the season opener nears

By Chris O'Brien | Oct. 29, 2018

The Gators didn’t make the cut for the AP preseason top 25 poll. But that isn’t a reason for the team to not have hope for the season.

Quarterback Emory Jones (right) has only two games of leeway remaining on his freshman redshirt.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

The weirdness of Florida-Georgia was front and center

By Alanis Thames | Oct. 29, 2018

A fired-up Dan Mullen had to be dragged from the field by the rim of his khaki pants.

Senior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese made five saves in regulation and overtime against Auburn in the Gators’ first-round matchup with the Tigers. She made three additional saves in the penalty shootout.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators survive red card, penalty kicks to advance in SEC Tourney

By Sam Campisano | Oct. 29, 2018

Florida goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese looked Auburn forward Rocio Sanders in the eye like a boxer staring down her opponent at the weigh in. Sanders had to convert this shot to keep Auburn’s hopes in the SEC Tournament alive.

Freshman quarterback Emory Jones (5) got meaningful playing time against Georgia on Saturday. He carried the ball four times for 12 yards and threw a deep pass that drew a pass-interference call.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Emory Jones isn’t the answer... yet

By Morgan McMullen and Morgan Meets the Eye | Oct. 29, 2018

Maybe it was the nerves of being on a big stage. Maybe it was a lack of in-game experience.

Junior outside hitter Paige Hammons led all players with 12 kills in Sunday's match between No. 11 Florida and Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators sweep Mississippi State on the road

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 28, 2018

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons stood waiting on a serve from Mississippi State’s side of the court at match point.

The Gators' defense held Georgia to a six-play, 0-yard drive that started at Florida's 1-yard line. The drive lasted nearly four minutes and ended with a Bulldogs field goal.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Even in a tough loss, Florida was resilient

By Mark Stine | Oct. 27, 2018

Feleipe Franks couldn’t fumble from his own one-yard line, but he did. Georgia recovered, looking to put Florida to bed with two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter.

Running back Jordan Scarlett fumbled on his first rushing attempt of the afternoon. He ended the day with 56 yards on eight carries.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Turnovers, mistakes prove costly as Georgia defeats Florida in Jacksonville

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 27, 2018

UF running back Jordan Scarlett probably wishes he could re-do his first carry of the day.

Junior Jessica Pascoe (middle) led the Gator women to a second-place finish at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, with the second-fastest overall time in the women's 6k.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF women take second behind Pascoe's SEC title performance

By Evan Lepak | Oct. 27, 2018

Junior Jessica Pascoe has accomplished a lot this season.

The UF women's cross country team is in Auburn, Alabama, to competing at the SEC Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF will face uphill battle at SEC Championships in Auburn, Alabama

By Evan Lepak | Oct. 25, 2018

The Florida cross country team will try to embrace the underdog role today when it competes with the rest of the Southeastern Conference at the SEC Championships.

The UF men's and women's swimming are in Athens, Georgia, to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swimming to face Georgia in Athens today

By Evan Lepak | Oct. 25, 2018

The surging Florida swimming and diving teams will be in Athens, Georgia, today to swim against the Bulldogs at the Gabrielsen Natatorium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Week 9

Oct. 25, 2018

Ready to get drunk in Jacksonville?

Forward Deanne Rose (21) scored her first goal of the season in Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Arkansas. She followed it with her second minutes later.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida defeats Arkansas, clinches berth in SEC Tournament

By River Wells | Oct. 25, 2018

The Gators (6-9-3, 4-4-2 SEC) certainly seemed inspired by the pre-match ceremonies to honor their seniors when they came out in the first half. It was just the 10th minute when midfielder Briana Solis hit a screamer from 20 yards out for her fourth career goal, putting UF up 1-0 early.