Volleyball - The Independent Florida Alligator

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

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Sports

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.

Freshman Gabby Mallette serves during Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Friday in the O’Connell Center. Mallette notched two blocks against the Razorbacks and leads Gators freshmen with 23 this season.

Sports

Freshman developing into potent blocker after slow start

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 9, 2012

Coach Mary Wise said blocking is typically a veteran strength. Freshman Gabby Mallette didn’t get the memo.

Junior setter Taylor Brauneis (8) celebrates with her teammates during Florida’s 3-0 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

Sports

Junior setter propelling Florida’s high-scoring offense

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 8, 2012

Taylor Brauneis doesn’t mind dishing away the ball or the spotlight.

Outside hitter Ziva Recek attempts to hit the ball over the net in Florida's 3-0 win on Friday in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Recek led UF with 19 kills against the Razorbacks.

Sports

Freshman powers Gators volleyball to come-from-behind victory

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 7, 2012

As Ziva Recek goes, so do the Gators — for better or for worse.

Middle blocker Betsy Smith (14) spikes the ball against Georgia Tech in a 3-1 victory on Sept. 8. The senior led the Gators with a season-high 11 blocks in Florida's sweep of Arkansas on Friday night.

Sports

UF's Betsy Smith blocks her way to a Florida victory

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Oct. 5, 2012

Although Friday night might have started off with a kill for redshirt senior Betsy Smith, but it was her blocking that dominated the match.

Sophomore Madison Monserez (11) attempts a pass during UF’s 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24, 2012, in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Gators volleyball approaching defense with clear minds

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 4, 2012

When Madison Monserez first sees Arkansas send a ball over the net on Friday at 7 p.m. in the O’Connell Center, her mind will be shut off.

Sports

Mann pacing Gators volleyball in middle

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Oct. 2, 2012

After Chloe Mann dominated last season, coach Mary Wise knew the middle blocker would be at the top of every opponent’s watch list.

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

Redshirt freshman Antwi finding role for Florida

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Oct. 1, 2012

As the Gators lined up for serving practice in the Lemerand Center, Simone Antwi imagined she was somewhere else.

Florida coach Mary Wise claps during a 3-0 win against FIU on Aug. 24, 2012 in the O'Connell Center.

Sports

Gators volleyball statistically dominant in win

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Sep. 30, 2012

Following Floridaís season opener, coach Mary Wise talked about the intensity of the crowd.

Chloe Mann help the No. 12 Florida Gators defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday night in Columbia, S.C. She set career highs with 20 kills and 22 points.

Sports

Gators volleyball withstands late Gamecocks rally

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Sep. 28, 2012

Although the Gators came into the third set ahead by two, the Gamecocks weren’t going to let them run away with the win.

Sports

Sophomore libero faces stiff test against South Carolina

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Sep. 27, 2012

Tonight’s matchup against South Carolina is a perfect opportunity for Taylor Unroe to showcase her talents.

Middle blocker Betsy Smith (14) attempts an attack against Jacksonville in Florida’s 3-0 victory on Sept. 7 in the O’Connell Center. Smith is the last player from the top-ranked 2008 recruiting class still suiting up for the Gators.

Sports

UF middle blocker making most of senior year

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Sep. 26, 2012

Betsy Smith first started to play volleyball in the summer before sixth grade. It wasn’t until the summer before her freshman year of high school that she knew she wanted to play for Florida.