Unroe's career defensive day leads Gators in 'Bama sweep
By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 20, 2012The Taylor Unroe of the past was nowhere to be found Friday night when the No. 11 Gators took on Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
The Taylor Unroe of the past was nowhere to be found Friday night when the No. 11 Gators took on Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
The crowd at the O’Connell Center jeered and yelled, but Madison Monserez, mouth agape, couldn’t eke out a word.
Since the season began, coach Mary Wise has described No. 11 Florida as a grind-it-out team.
Even as Chloe Mann tied her career high with 20 kills in just three sets, the Gators’ defense stole the show.
When Florida’s top-two attackers hit their stride in the same match, opposing defenses have their hands full, coach Mary Wise said.
The No. 11 Gators are atop the Southeastern Conference at the midway point of the regular season partly because the communication on the court has improved from previous years, Betsy Smith said.
Coach Mary Wise said blocking is typically a veteran strength. Freshman Gabby Mallette didn’t get the memo.
Taylor Brauneis doesn’t mind dishing away the ball or the spotlight.
As Ziva Recek goes, so do the Gators — for better or for worse.
Although Friday night might have started off with a kill for redshirt senior Betsy Smith, but it was her blocking that dominated the match.
When Madison Monserez first sees Arkansas send a ball over the net on Friday at 7 p.m. in the O’Connell Center, her mind will be shut off.
After Chloe Mann dominated last season, coach Mary Wise knew the middle blocker would be at the top of every opponent’s watch list.
As the Gators lined up for serving practice in the Lemerand Center, Simone Antwi imagined she was somewhere else.
Following Floridaís season opener, coach Mary Wise talked about the intensity of the crowd.
Although the Gators came into the third set ahead by two, the Gamecocks weren’t going to let them run away with the win.
Tonight’s matchup against South Carolina is a perfect opportunity for Taylor Unroe to showcase her talents.
Betsy Smith first started to play volleyball in the summer before sixth grade. It wasn’t until the summer before her freshman year of high school that she knew she wanted to play for Florida.
Three years after taking a leap of faith, Tangerine Wiggs is still trying to stick the landing.
Coach Mary Wise said some of the offensive numbers Florida has put up have blown away her preseason expectations.
The Gators may have won the first two sets over the Tigers on Friday, but the start wasn’t their best.