Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Shainah Joseph had six kills in the first frame of Sunday's win against Missouri, leading all players in the set and finished with a career-high 20 kills to go along with three blocks.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

On Senior Day, Shainah Joseph leads Gators volleyball team over Tigers

By Justin Ahlum | Nov. 12, 2017

Tears, hugs and smiles filled the O’Connell Center during the pregame ceremony as the Gators honored their seniors. Caroline Knop, Lindsey Rogers, Shainah Joseph, Carli Snyder and Rhamat Alhassan were all joined by family members before defeating the Missouri Tigers in four sets, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24, 25-16 .

A scoring run between the second and third quarters served as the catalyst the Gators’ offense needed as they ran away with the game, beating Georgia State 82-66.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators, Newbauer win big against Georgia State in season debut

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 11, 2017

As halftime drew near, Sydney Searcy’s unofficial theme song began to play.

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 | COLUMNS

Column: Florida is terrible. But Saturday’s loss showed why its games are still worth watching

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 11, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. — It started, like most good moments for Florida’s football team this season, with a punt.

Malik Zaire injured his knee during Saturday's 28-20 loss to South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium. After the initial injury, Zaire returned to the game two plays earlier, only to crumble after taking the snap and shifting his weight to left leg.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Gators coach Randy Shannon let his quarterback risk a major injury, and his explanation isn’t great.

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 11, 2017

It looked bad. Malik Zaire crumbled after taking the snap and shifting his weight to left leg.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks (left) completed 10 of 25 passes for 174 yards, no touchdowns and one interception on Saturday against South Carolina. UF fell to the Gamecocks, 28-20, sending its losing streak to five straight games.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators losing streak continues in 28-20 defeat to Gamecocks

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 11, 2017

By the time Florida’s defense realized Jake Bentley still had the ball in his hands, there was nothing any of its players could do.

Rachael Kramer goes up for a block during Florida's 3-1 loss to Kentucky on Oct. 15, 2017, at the O'Connell Center. Kramer recorded 11 kills in a win against Mississippi State on Sunday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball starts slow, then dominates Arkansas for win

By Andrew Huang | Nov. 10, 2017

Rachael Kramer, 6-foot-8, and Shainah Joseph, 6-foot-1, jumped in unison in front of the net, both hands in the air. Their teammate, freshman Paige Hammons, set her feet in the backcourt, bracing for Pilar Victoria’s attack, should it pass through the outstretched arms of Kramer and Joseph.

UF forward Melanie Monteagudo scored her first goal of the season on Friday against South Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer defeats South Alabama, advances to NCAA Second Round

By Mark Stine | Nov. 10, 2017

Freshman Madison Alexander waited patiently inside the South Alabama box as midfielders Gabby Seiler and Sarah Troccoli traded passes. Seiler found space on the left flank and served a cross towards the six-yard box. Alexander jumped all over Seiler’s ball, placing it past goalkeeper Justice Stanford to open the scoring in the 34th minute.

The Gators men’s and women's cross country teams ended their season at the NCAA South Regional Championship Friday. Junior Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell finished first overall for the Gators in 51st with a time of 21:17.8, a career best.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Gators cross country teams wraps up season at NCAA South Regional Championship

By Alana Gomez | Nov. 10, 2017

The Gators men’s and women's cross country teams ended their season at the NCAA South Regional Championship Friday.

Eight Gators beat writers pick eight college football games against the spread.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column Week 11: Injury Edition

Nov. 10, 2017

Here’s a statement that goes without saying: Football can be an extremely brutal sport to play.

Taven Bryan, a redshirt junior, was a freshman when Florida fired the current South Carolina head coach. Saturday at noon, Will Muschamp and his second-place Gamecocks will host a vulnerable Florida team still marred by the loss of its most recent sideline chief, Jim McElwain.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators’ battle to make a bowl game starts in South Carolina

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 10, 2017

Gators defensive tackle Taven Bryan smirked, realizing he still had Will Muschamp’s old playbook.

Florida players celebrate during UF's 2-1 win against Syracuse on Sunday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida’s soccer team has to watch out for a trap game tonight in first round of NCAA Tournament

By Mark Stine | Nov. 10, 2017

Becky Burleigh knows not to overlook South Alabama.

Nearly eight months after he was hired to replace ousted coach Amanda Butler, Cameron Newbauer is set to test his offensive game plan Saturday afternoon at 4 when the Gators women's basketball team takes on Georgia State at the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball team has questions to confront ahead of season-opener

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 10, 2017

Coach Cameron Newbauer runs practices in the same manner he wants to run his in-game offense: fast. Players are expected to hustle to and from every exercise. On fast-break drills, ball handlers make one quick pass to the outside and position themselves for a potential rebound.

In its first home match since Oct. 27, the Florida volleyball team will try to contain an Arkansas offense that had the Gators on their heels for much of their September SEC opener.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball team back in O’Dome, looking for season sweep of Arkansas

By Andrew Huang | Nov. 10, 2017

Two hours, seventeen minutes and a grueling five sets later, the Gators got the win.

Florida linebackers coach Randy Shannon watches a drill during a Spring practice on March 16, 2016, at the Sanders Practice Fields.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Randy Shannon is auditioning for his next job. And, like it or not, it’s affecting Franks’ development

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 8, 2017

About two weeks ago, during Randy Shannon’s first day as interim coach of the Florida Gators, he began to explain how he would — and would not — be approaching the remainder of UF’s season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Ja'Marr Chase, top-20 receiving recruit, decommits from the University of Florida

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 8, 2017

Ten days after the firing of former Florida coach Jim McElwian, the Gators have their first decommitment.

UF cross country runner Jack Rogers (right), his girlfriend, Madison Dixon (left), Jack's mother's dog, Mateo, pose for a photo after the 2015 USF invitational.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Contending yet cuddly: Gators runner Jack Rogers balances competitive nature by connecting with animals

By Alana Gomez | Nov. 8, 2017

Jack Rogers is fast.

Rhamat Alhassan jumps up to block the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Florida A&M on Sept. 15, 2017, at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators prepare for senior day, final stretch of regular season

By Andrew Huang | Nov. 8, 2017

She’s an athlete.

UF forward Haley Lorenzen attempts a jump shot during Florida's 57-53 win against Arkansas on Feb. 9, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Going into final season, Lorenzen ready to school opponents while attending grad school

By Justin Ahlum | Nov. 8, 2017

In her three seasons at UF, Haley Lorenzen has seen improvements in her scoring, developed a three-point shot and been accepted into graduate school, studying in the sports management program.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Bradley Beal’s brawl and more: An early-season report on Gators in the NBA

By Benjamin Brandt | Nov. 7, 2017

Former Florida Gator Bradley Beal’s biggest moment so far this season came with the clock stopped. On Oct. 27, whistles sounded as players and referees charged toward the action underneath the basket.

Samantha Chung will play in her third NCAA Tournament on Friday when the Gators take on South Alabama. But her journey to Florida wasn't without suffering.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Fueled by her family, UF midfielder Samantha Chung thrives

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 7, 2017

Nobody who had ever seen a soccer match would mistake young Samantha Chung for a great player. She wasn’t even average.