Sports | Volleyball - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Introducing the fall alligatorSports staff

By Tyler Nettuno | Aug. 18, 2019

Another season of fall sports at UF is upon us.

Freshman Thayer Hall leads the Gators with 2.97 kills per set this season.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Reflecting on Florida Volleyball’s 2018 season

By Mari Faiello | Dec. 17, 2018

The Florida Gators volleyball season began about 100 days ago.

Sophomore setter Holly Carlton recorded a team-high nine kills on 17 attacks in Sunday afternoon’s win against Alabama. The 6-foot-7 Carlton also set a career-high with four service aces.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

BYU ends Florida’s season in four sets

By Dylan Rudolph | Dec. 8, 2018

The BYU players set up a play with match point as the rowdy crowd’s rhythmic chant urged them on at the Smith Fieldhouse.

Coach Mary Wise said that the NCAA tournament needs to be updated so teams aren't playing on consecutive days. "We’re still playing the rules of the 80s and the tournament designed in the 80s. And these guys are very different than the 1980s.”

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators take on fourth-seeded BYU in Regionals of NCAA Tournament

By Mari Faiello | Dec. 3, 2018

You could say coach Mary Wise is fed up.

The UF volleyball team celebrates its sweep of FGCU (25-17, 25-13, 25-17) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with some fans and the Florida band.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators advance to Round 3 of NCAA’s after sweeping FGCU

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 30, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons stood at the ready on match point Friday night. She waited on a serve from Florida Gulf Coast’s side of the court.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Finding Faith: Kellum got a boost, both athletically and spiritually

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 29, 2018

Taelor Kellum walked into the Gale Lemerand practice facility at the University of Florida looking for answers.

Outside hitter Paige Hammons led the Gators with 16 kills and only one error in Thursday's sweep of Florida State.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida sweeps Florida State in Round 1 of NCAA Championship

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 29, 2018

Sophomore Paige Hammons stood on the black and gold logo that brandished regional host UCF’s letters, awaiting the serve from Florida State’s Madison Sullivan.

Middle blocker Taelor Kellum (10) recorded eight kills in Florida's 3-0 win over South Carolina on Friday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF prepares for first round of NCAA tourney

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 28, 2018

A soft applause and some smiles came from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as the Florida Gators volleyball squad found out they would be playing arch-rival Florida State for the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament during the selection show Sunday night.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Looking back: Florida’s regular-season highlights

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 25, 2018

The 2018 regular season was predictably unpredictable for a year where the Florida volleyball team replaced four graduating All-Americans who led it to a 2017 NCAA Championship appearance with six freshmen and a transfer.

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons led both the Florida and South Carolina rosters in kills (13) and total attacks (34) on Friday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators complete regular season, sweep Gamecocks

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 23, 2018

There was a lot of celebrating in the O’Connell Center Friday night as Florida’s volleyball team secured a sweep over the South Carolina Gamecocks to finish off the regular season.

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 at Tennessee

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 22, 2018

Right-side attacker Holly Carlton took a normal swing at the pin as the Gators trailed the Volunteers 24-21 toward the end of the third set.

Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) was a part of six of the team’s 10 blocks in Sunday’s three-set sweep over Georgia in Athens.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF sweeps Georgia behind strong offensive showing

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 18, 2018

The Bulldogs were down big again in the second set, staring at the set point against them and looking for anything to bring them back.

Senior middle blocker Taelor Kellum registered 12 kills in Florida's three-set win over LSU Friday night.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida sweeps LSU in Friday night matchup

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 17, 2018

Middle blocker Taelor Kellum waited for the pass to come during a long rally in the third set. The dig was good. The set was better. Right in her wheelhouse.

Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer leads the team this season in blocks (135).

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF prepares for final SEC matches at end of season

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 16, 2018

Coach Mary Wise said she wished that the volleyball program had the same luxuries as the football team does when it comes to scheduling matches earlier this season.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida’s 3 stars from Sunday’s win at Auburn

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 11, 2018

Paige Hammons stood with her knees bent and at the ready as Auburn’s Mica Allison sent a float-style serve over the net.

Freshman setter Marlie Monserez (21) celebrates with libero Allie Gregory after a Florida point on Sept. 15 against Army.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators take on Auburn Tigers Sunday afternoon on the road

By Mari Faiello | Nov. 9, 2018

There’s a lot you can do on a 5.5-hour bus ride to Auburn, Alabama. You could read a short novel. You could catch up on missed sleep. You might be able to finish half a game of “Monopoly.”

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

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

One for the team: Holly Carlton’s journey from the backyard to front row

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 7, 2018

A 9-year-old Holly Carlton followed her older sister, Kayla, to their quiet backyard in the Eastern Loudoun subdivision in Sterling, Virginia, with a volleyball in hand. The two went to a portion of their backyard that was fenced off for a makeshift volleyball court.

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons recorded a game-high 16 kills and added four service aces in Florida’s four-set win against Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators rally past Arkansas for program’s 1,000th win

By Dylan Rudolph | Nov. 5, 2018

Paige Hammons lined up for a serve in the second set donning her bright, highlighter orange headband and smacking her gum as she had done every match previous. Her serve slapped the tape of the net, but it crept over the side and fell just out of reach of three Arkansas defenders, causing them to look up in the rafters of the O’Connell Center and wish they were as fortunate.

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 | 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.