Volleyball - The Independent Florida Alligator

The sight of Betsy Smith’s 6-foot-2 frame falling to the floor with a right ankle injury was not encouraging to coach Mary Wise. Smith, who injured her ankle during No. 13 Florida’s loss to No. 11 Florida State on Oct. 24, “some time away,” according to Wise.

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Tangerine Wiggs sets UF volleyball record

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Oct. 28, 2012

Redshirt senior Tangerine Wiggs has made the most of her three rotations this season by racking up 165 kills, but Friday night she outperformed herself when she set a new school record in Florida’s 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-11) win against Mississippi State.

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.

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Poor passing hurts UF volleyball in loss to FSU

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 24, 2012

Coach Mary Wise’s “down 2-0” speech isn’t magic.

Redshirt senior middle blocker Betsy Smith attempts an attack in Florida’s 3-0 win against Ole Miss on Oct. 12 in the O’Connell Center. Smith is fourth on the team with 1.98 kills per set this season.

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Middles for Gators volleyball provide offensive boost

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 23, 2012

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.

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Junior middle blocker ignites rally in comeback victory

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 21, 2012

For the second time in five matches, Florida fell behind 2-0. And, for the second time in five matches, Chloe Mann was at the center of the Gators’ come-from-behind win.

Florida libero Taylor Unroe (5) serves during Florida’s 3-0 win against Missouri on Sept. 21 in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Unroe's 18 digs against Alabama on Friday her second-highest total in a three-set match.

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Unroe's career defensive day leads Gators in 'Bama sweep

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 20, 2012

The Taylor Unroe of the past was nowhere to be found Friday night when the No. 11 Gators took on Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The No. 11 Florida Gators travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and College Station, Texas, to take on two conference opponents. Florida has won its first nine conference games heading into matchups with Alabama and Texas A&M.

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SEC rivals present intense challenge for UF volleyball

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 18, 2012

The crowd at the O’Connell Center jeered and yelled, but Madison Monserez, mouth agape, couldn’t eke out a word.

Florida sophomore defensive specialist Holly Pole celebrates during a match in 2011.

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Sophomore embodies Gators’ hard-nosed mentality on defense

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 17, 2012

Since the season began, coach Mary Wise has described No. 11 Florida as a grind-it-out team.

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.

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Defense keys Gators volleyball to 12th straight victory

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 14, 2012

Even as Chloe Mann tied her career high with 20 kills in just three sets, the Gators’ defense stole the show.

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Recek, Gators continue win streak against Ole Miss

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 12, 2012

When Florida’s top-two attackers hit their stride in the same match, opposing defenses have their hands full, coach Mary Wise said.

Senior middle blocker Betsy Smith attempts to spike the ball over the net during Florida's 3-0 victory against Missouri on Sept. 21 at the O'Connell Center. Her leadership has helped the young Gators communicate on the court.

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Veterans vital to on-court communication

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 11, 2012

The No. 11 Gators are atop the Southeastern Conference at the midway point of the regular season partly because the communication on the court has improved from previous years, Betsy Smith said.