sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn's freshmen struggled early in the season.

Sports

Freshman’s season in jeopardy

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 19, 2013

Gymnast Bridgette Caquatto endured several setbacks even before arriving at Florida.

Junior point guard Jaterra Bonds (10) shoots during Florida’s 62-57 loss to Georgia on Feb. 17 in the O’Connell Center. Bonds scored 17 points in Florida's 64-59 victory against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament on Thursday.

Sports

Increased maturity helping junior point guard during trying season

Feb. 19, 2013

Jaterra Bonds was known for her erratic on-court behavior for the Gators last season.

Freshman Bridget Sloan performs her bar routine during Florida's 198.10-196.85 win against Alabama on Feb. 8 in the O'Connell Center. Sloan won the all-around title at the SEC Championship meet on Saturday.

Sports

Freshman performing better in road meets

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 18, 2013

Bridget Sloan had rarely been rooted against before arriving at Florida.

UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.

Sports

Florida defeats North Carolina in road match

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 18, 2013

Brianna Morgan led the way for the Gators in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Monday.

Sophomore Alyssa Bache pitches in the Florida Lipton Invitational. Bache surrendered six runs in four innings of work against Ole Miss on Sunday.

Sports

Sophomore pitcher rebounding from slow start to 2013

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 18, 2013

Alyssa Bache’s first inning in 2013 was not her finest hour.

UF associate head coach Anthony Nesty (right) watches during Florida’s dual-meet sweep against Tennessee on Feb. 1 in the O’Connell Center. Nesty said the Gators need to excel in relays to win the SEC championship.

Sports

UF swimming aims to win SEC meet

By ROBERT JUDIN< | Feb. 18, 2013

The Gators are trying to get over the hump.

Kitty Cullen attempts a shot during Florida's 14-7 win against Northwestern on May 5 at Dizney Stadium.

Sports

UF working to eliminate slow starts despite successful rallies

Feb. 18, 2013

Following a 13-7 win against High Point, coach Amanda O’Leary pointed out a statistic Florida should note.

Olivia Janowicz prepares to return a serve in a match against Duke in 2011.

Sports

Blue Devils snap Gators’ 25-match winning streak

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 17, 2013

After Olivia Janowicz and Danielle Collins dropped the first doubles match to Duke’s Monica Turewicz and Hanna Mar 8-4, Florida could not get back on track.

Kenny Boynton attempts a shot during Florida’s 69-52 victory against Kentucky on Feb. 12 at the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Three-point shooting key in UF win against Auburn

By LANDON WATNICK | Feb. 17, 2013

Before Saturday’s game, Kenny Boynton remembered what happened at Auburn Arena two seasons ago.

Sophomore first baseman Zack Powers hits the second of his two grand slams during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Sunday at McKethan Stadium. Powers, who missed 2012 with a torn labrum, finished the Gator’ series-clinching victory with nine RBI.

Sports

Sophomore hits two grand slams, helps clinch series

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Feb. 17, 2013

Zack Powers got his mojo back on Sunday.

Senior center fielder Cody Dent swings during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Feb. 17 at McKethan Stadium. Dent hit his first career home run against Florida A&M on Monday.

Sports

Senior returns to form during first series of final season

By ADAM PINCUS | Feb. 17, 2013

After Sunday’s game ended, clay dotted the right side of Cody Dent’s uniform from his chest to his cleats.

Freshman Bridget Sloan performs her beam routine in Florida’s 197.65-196.025 win against Auburn on Jan. 25 at home.

Sports

No. 1 Florida collects third road win of season

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 16, 2013

What Florida accomplished on Saturday evening had not been done in nearly 21 years.

Sophomore second baseman Casey Turgeon throws the ball to first base during Florida’s 4-2 win against Florida Gulf Coast on Mar. 9, 2012, at McKethan Stadium. Turgeon had four hits and three RBI during a 6-4 victory against Indiana on Saturday.

Sports

Turgeon, Gators even series against Blue Devils

By ADAM PINCUS | Feb. 16, 2013

Squirrel struck again for Florida.

Sophomore Alyssa Bache threw a complete game shutout against Savannah State on Saturday.

Sports

Bache throws shutout; Gators sweep Saturday

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 16, 2013

Alyssa Bache took the circle against Savannah State for the second consecutive day.

Junior Jonathon Crawford throws a pitch during Florida’s 9-8 victory against NC State in Game 2 of the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional on June 10, 2012, at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Gators fall to Blue Devils in season opener

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Feb. 15, 2013

The Gators weren’t supposed to have to worry about Friday.

Gators sophomore Lauren Haeger pitches during a game last season. The sophomore helped Florida beat No. 1 Alabama 8-4 on Wednesday.

Sports

Haeger powers UF to pair of wins

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 15, 2013

On a day where it looked like the Gators’ offense would steal the show, a pitcher nearly took center stage.

After giving up two easy goals at UNC, junior defender Sam Farrell said the Gators have made defensive adjustments in an effort to improve transition play.

Sports

Tampa 2 defense paying off for UF

Feb. 14, 2013

Tampa 2 is a defensive football strategy created by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1990s. Mixing his lacrosse and football background, Nick Williams formed a deviation of the Tampa 2 to incorporate in lacrosse.

UF senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley. Van Overbeek won only his second match since Feb. 3 against Ole Miss on Friday.

Sports

Alford, Florida set to face Pepperdine

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Feb. 14, 2013

Tied 3-3 in the first round of the 2012 ITA Indoor Championships, Florida relied on Mike Alford to finish off Pepperdine.

Sophomore Hannah Rogers throws during a 4-1 victory against Auburn last season. Rogers is working on lowering her ERA early in 2013.

Sports

UF pitching staff looking to improve

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 14, 2013

In 2012, then-sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers led the Gators’ pitching staff with an ERA of 1.23, but a week into the 2013 season, the junior’s ERA is nearly a run higher at 2.13.

Freshman Danielle Collins returns a serve during UF’s 7-0 win against USF on Jan. 29 at Linder Stadium. Collins teamed with Olivia Janowicz to win the only doubles match for the Gators on Friday.

Sports

Gators ready for tough road tests

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 14, 2013

Freshmen Danielle Collins and Brianna Morgan will learn first hand how rowdy opposing tennis teams’ fans can get.