sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sports

The Gators' game in Knoxville is a must-win

By The Lost city of Alanis | Sep. 21, 2018

The players won't say it. But this game is a must-win.

Wide receiver Van Jefferson caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against Colorado State on Saturday.

Sports

Three questions for UF’s matchup against Tennessee

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 21, 2018

The Florida-Tennessee rivalry is the stuff of legends. Well, at least to its fans it is.

Alanis Thames has led the Picks Column since Week 1.

Sports

alligatorSports Picks Column: Week 4

By Alligator Staff report | Sep. 21, 2018

Mick Hubert, the voice of Florida Gators radio, has been immortalized for all time with his call of Florida-Tennessee last season. You can probably hear his exasperated voice trying not to crack as he shrieks, “IT’S A TOUCHDOWN! HOOO MY!”

Midfielder Lais Araujo (18) picked up a hat trick in the first 32 minutes of Florida’s 6-0 win over Kentucky on Thursday night in Lexington.

Sports

HAT TRICK: Lais Araujo dominant in Florida victory

By River Wells | Sep. 21, 2018

Lais Araujo may have been the player to snap the Gators’ scoreless streak against Vanderbilt, but a heartbreaking loss left her unsatisfied with the feat.

Freshman Thayer Hall leads Florida with 168 kills and 11 service aces this season.

Sports

Gators kick off SEC play with matchup against Ole Miss

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 21, 2018

Florida volleyball enters the second phase of its season with conference play beginning today against Ole Miss after finishing one of the toughest non-conference schedules to date.

Sports

Florida fans, don’t be like FSU fans

By Mark My Words | Sep. 19, 2018

This column is a public service announcement to all of you ridiculously passionate Florida fans.

Junior Johannes Ingildsen is slotted at No. 11 on the ITA preseason singles rankings list.

Sports

Florida set for opening weekend at UVA Invite in Charlottesville

By Kyle Wood | Sep. 19, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team will begin its season two weeks later than expected.

Senior Lais Araujo finally broke UF's scoreless streak (six games) with a goal in the 78th minute of the 2-1 home loss to the Commodores on Sunday.

Sports

Fresh off scoreless streak, UF travels in search of a win

By River Wells | Sep. 19, 2018

Coach Becky Burleigh insisted that her Florida team would be starting with a clean slate as it headed into SEC play before its match against Vanderbilt on Sunday.

UF has two bye weeks on its 2019 schedule along with a season-opening matchup with Miami on Aug. 31.

Sports

Notebook: Looking forward to 2019 schedule and back on Zach Smith GPD photos

By Alligator Staff report | Sep. 19, 2018

Gators release 2019 season schedule

Sports

Gators in the NFL Week 2: Callaway bursts onto the scene

By Dylan Rudolph | Sep. 19, 2018

Gators all over the NFL made big plays on Sunday. Forty-seven Florida alumni appeared on 26 of the 32 teams.

Running back Lamical Perine (22) said he's no fan of Tennessee's fight song, "Rocky Top."

Sports

“Rocky Top” center of Gators' practices this week

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 19, 2018

There are some songs that get stuck in your head. “Baby Shark” has undergone a resurgence among nostalgia-minded millennials. Some catchy songs we inflict on ourselves by playing it ad nauseam on repeat out of a simple sense of masochism and primal aural pleasure.

Former UF graduate assistant coach Zach Smith was charged in 2009 with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman. The charge was later dropped.

Sports

GPD releases photos of Zach Smith, Courtney Smith domestic incident

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 17, 2018

The Gainesville Police Department released photos Monday from 2009 domestic incident between former UF graduate assistant coach Zach Smith and Courtney Smith, his wife at the time.

Junior Marta Perez (+1) is in eighth after two rounds at the Longhorn Invite. UF (+10) is currently in 10th.

Sports

Gators finish third at Mary Fossum Invitational

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 17, 2018

UF’s women’s golf team wrapped up its weekend at the Mary Fossum Invitational in East Lansing, Michigan, with a third-place finish.

Middle blocker Rachael Kramer (left) and outside hitter Mia Sokolowski (right) figure to be prominent players heading forward for the Gators. Kramer racked up 16 kills during the Gator Invitational. Sokolowski has 35 kills this season in a reserve role.

Sports

What we learned from the Gainesville Gator Invitational

By Dylan Rudolph | Sep. 17, 2018

The No. 11 Florida volleyball team returned home after a four-match road trip to Arizona and Tallahassee to play three matches in the Honda of Gainesville Gator Invitational.

Freshman running back Dameon Pierce scored on a 68-yard touchdown run on his third carry of the game. Florida finished with 222 yards rushing on 29 attempts.

Sports

Notebook: Observations from Florida's win over Colorado State

By Alanis Thames | Sep. 17, 2018

Perhaps it was the focus on mental toughness in practice. Perhaps it was all the banter about the lack of physicality following an embarrassing loss to Kentucky.

Sports

UF’s scoreless streak ends, but its losing streak is alive and well

By River Wells | Sep. 17, 2018

The net behind Vanderbilt goalkeeper Taiana Tolleson gently swished. The interlacing nylon in front of Florida’s offense hadn’t so much as shivered in its previous 677 minutes and 14 seconds.

Sports

One thing from UF’s win over CSU: Something needs to change offensively

By Jake's on a Plane and Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 16, 2018

Sure, a win is a win.

Middle blocker Taelor Kellum led the Gators in blocks (5) in their four-set triumph over Army Saturday night. Kellum also registered nine kills, good for third on the team.

Sports

Florida completes tournament sweep with win over Army

By Dylan Rudolph | Sep. 15, 2018

Army gained some momentum in the fourth set after it scored back-to-back kills to draw within two.

Junior wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland made an impact play on special teams in the Gators' 48-10 win over Colorado State. In the second quarter, he recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown just before the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

Sports

Special teams and turnovers help UF to blowout win

By Mark Stine | Sep. 15, 2018

The likelihood of wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland scoring against Colorado State on Saturday was probably pretty high. Hardly anybody could’ve predicted it’d come via special teams.

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

Florida volleyball’s 3 stars from Friday’s doubleheader

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 14, 2018

After taking two wins from Friday’s matchups, Florida’s volleyball team scattered around its home court and waited on anxious Gators fans eager to have the players take some photos or sign some posters.