Volleyball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior middle blocker Chloe Mann hits the ball over the net in Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Senior sets Florida record

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 23, 2013

During the past 13 years, the Gators have gone to the NCAA tournament every season and have won the Southeastern Conference 11 times.

Mackenzie Dagostino squats during Florida’s three-set victory against Florida State on Tuesday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Added depth helping Florida succeed

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 22, 2013

The stat line reads the same for almost every game — Taylor Brauneis leads Florida in assists while Chloe Mann and Ziva Recek take turns leading in kills.

Sophomore Noami Santos-Lamb gets in position during Florida’s 3-0 victory against New Orleans on Aug. 30 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Santos-Lamb leads Florida to win against Wisconsin-Milwaukee

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 21, 2013

For the second straight weekend, coach Mary Wise found an opportunity to get Noami Santos-Lamb back on the court as she continues to rehab from a torn ACL in her left knee that she suffered Aug. 18, 2012.

Chloe Mann jumps to spike the ball during Florida’s four-set victory against Western Michigan in the O’Connell Center on Sept. 14

Sports

Florida bounces back from slow start to sweep Marquette

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 20, 2013

After sweeping rival Florida State on Tuesday, it took the No. 4 Gators (10-1) volleyball team all it had to overcome Marquette (5-4) in three sets 25-21, 25-21, 25-13.

Ziva Recek reaches for the ball during Florida’s four-set victory against Western Michigan on Sept. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Wise looking to take load off Recek as UF travels to Marquette

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 19, 2013

With a lack of options on offense, coach Mary Wise was forced to ride the arm of Ziva Recek throughout the 2012 season.

Taylor Unroe reaches for the ball during Florida’s three-set victory against FSU on Tuesday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Libero spurs comeback against Seminoles

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 18, 2013

No. 4 Florida (9-1) trailed 9-8 in the second set against No. 17 Florida State (6-4) on Tuesday, and it appeared another long point might not fall in the Gators’ favor.

Junior libero Taylor Unroe reacts to a play during Florida’s three-set victory against FSU on Sept. 17 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Gators avenge loss, sweep Seminoles

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 17, 2013

Last season, Florida dropped the first two sets to Florida State and lost any chance at a comeback by digging itself a 4-0 hole to begin the third set.

Gabby Mallette reaches to hit the ball during Florida’s four-set win against Western Michigan on Sept. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Gators seeking redemption against Seminoles

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 16, 2013

When Florida played its annual match against Florida State last season, the Gators suffered one of only three sweeps of the season. The other two came against reigning national champion Texas.

Sports

Florida defense lagging behind historic offensive output

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 15, 2013

Under coach Mary Wise, the Gators are no strangers to high-powered offenses.

Sports

Long rallies trouble Florida despite win

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 15, 2013

After surviving a scare from Western Michigan on Saturday, No. 5 Florida (8-1) has adjustments to make prior to facing No. 16 Florida State (6-3) on Tuesday.

Ziva Recek spikes the ball over the net in Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida sweeps Iona, defeats Western Michigan in four sets

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 15, 2013

The No. 5 Gators walked out of the O’Connell Center on Saturday as the Active Ankle Challenge champions but not without taking some major blows on defense.

Chloe Mann (10) spikes the ball over Missouri’s Whitney Little (8) during UF’s 3-0 win on Sept. 21, 2012, in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Sports

Mann fuels Florida to sweep of Georgetown

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 13, 2013

On Thursday, Redshirt senior middle blocker Chloe Mann had her number retired by her alma mater, Eastside High.

Sophomore setter Dana Backlund serves the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Jacksonville on Sept. 7, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Setters replace veteran in practice

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 12, 2013

She never minded wearing a mask. She did it for four years.

Simone Antwi jumps for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 victory against New Orleans on Aug. 30 in the O’Connell Center. UF is 5-1 this season.

Sports

Play of middle blocker will prove critical to Gators’ success

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 10, 2013

Although it may seem as if Florida was run out of the gym by then-No. 1 Penn State on Sunday, there were enough positives to leave the Gators optimistic moving forward.

Gabby Mallette squats to bump the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. No. 5 Florida beat then-No. 2 Stanford on Saturday before losing to then-No. 1 Penn State on Sunday.

Sports

Early loss prepares Florida for rigors of postseason play

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 9, 2013

In the finale of the Campus USA Invite last week, Florida rebounded to defeat Duke after showing some signs of weakness against LIU-Brooklyn the previous night.

Sports

Gators drop weekend finale to Penn State

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 8, 2013

The Gators upset No. 2 Stanford on Saturday, but their luck came to an end against No. 1 Penn State on Sunday after they were swept 25–18, 25–17, 25–20.

Simone Antwi (16) receives a pass from Dana Backlund (2) during UF’s 3-0 win against Jacksonville on Sept. 7, 2012, in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Sports

Antwi, No. 8 Florida top No. 2 Stanford in Nike Big Four Classic

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 7, 2013

Spending the last two years under the tutelage of Chloe Mann and Betsy Smith, middle blocker Simone Antwi proved on Saturday that she has been a good student.

Taylor Brauneis reaches for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. Brauneis had 36 assists against UT-SA on Thursday.

Sports

Gators drop anvil on Roadrunners

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 5, 2013

The Gators continued their solid start to the 2013 season Thursday.

Alex Holston reaches to hit the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against New Orleans on Friday in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Holston smashes UF freshman record for opening weekend as Gators go 3-0

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 3, 2013

When Florida swept Duke in three straight sets to capture the Campus USA Credit Union Invite on Sunday, they walked away with more than a trophy.

Sophomore outside hitter Noami Santos-Lamb (17) squats to bump the ball during Florida’s 3-0 victory against New Orleans on Friday in the O’Connell Center. Florida won all three of its weekend matches.

Sports

Florida finding rhythm after successful first weekend

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 2, 2013

Despite the Gators’ perfect 3-0 record to begin the season, coach Mary Wise said the team still has a laundry list of imperfections that must be corrected before the Big Four Classic starts Saturday.