Versatile Bledsoe plays big role for Gators
By MIKE DiFERDINANDO | Sep. 16, 2008Call it confidence, swagger or whatever you like.
Call it confidence, swagger or whatever you like.
Apparently, there really is no place like home.
In the first two weeks of the season, freshman Kristy Jaeckel has received two Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week awards and a couple of tournament MVPs.
Elyse Cusack is strong - and not just on the court.
Some games, All-American high school talent gives way to freshman inexperience.
After storming through an early nonconference schedule that included lightweights Alabama-Birmingham, Pacific and Jacksonville, the Gators finally climbed into the ring with someone that was willing to hit back.
In mid-air hangs an attacker, a defender and an orange and blue striped volleyball.
Nothing says coming-out party like a Most Valuable Player award.
If there is one word to describe the last 17 seasons under coach Mary Wise, it is consistent.
Nick Calathes, Jai Lucas and much of the rest of the UF men's basketball team could be found chatting with Doc Rivers, coach of the World Champion Boston Celtics, in the O'Connell Center Sunday afternoon.
Marreese Speights trekked from Oakland to Orlando in prep for the NBA Draft - and all in a matter of a couple weeks.
The rest of the Southeastern Conference will be wishing volleyball is only played outdoors from now on.
Game two brought hope.
When UF takes the court this weekend in the NCAA volleyball regional, the team will take on a role not usually associated with the Gators: underdog.
The match had been over for more than 20 minutes, but Lauren Bledsoe's heart was still beating rapidly.
The match had been over for more than 20 minutes, but Lauren Bledsoe's heart was still beating rapidly.
Marcie Hampton stood the entire time.
A 25-win season capped off by a 17th-consecutive Southeastern Conference title was practically a formality.
Marcie Hampton did not want her UF career to end like this.
The UF volleyball team lost only its second match of the season Saturday night, but it lost something much more important toward the end of game three.