No. 11 Florida Volleyball Falls to No. 25 North Carolina in SEC-ACC Challenge

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 11 Florida volleyball staff fell in three units, 23-25, 18-25, 21-25, to No. 25 North Carolina within the SEC-ACC Challenge on Tuesday evening at Carmichael Arena to shut out its three-match highway stint with a 2-1 report.

Alexis Stucky and Taylor Parks shared the setting duties tonight, with Stucky having 19 assists and Parks ending with eight. As a staff, Florida hit .155 with Jordyn Byrd main the offense with 10 kills. Aniya Madkin pitched in eight and each Jaela Auguste and Alec Rothe had seven a chunk to hit .308 and .417 on the evening, respectfully.

At the online, the Gators opened the evening with a set-high 6.0 blocks to out-block the Tar Heels 11.0-6.0 within the three-setter. Rothe led the best way with 5, whereas Auguste had two solo blocks to complete with 4 whole. Kira Hutson recorded 4 as effectively to tie her profession finest. Byrd pitched in two and Stucky, Madkin and Parks recorded one every.

In the backcourt, the Gators completed with 42 digs to North Carolina’s 32. Freshman libero Lily Hayes picked up a team-high 13, with eight names contributing atleast one dig for Florida: Emily Canaan (7), Stucky (7), Ella Vogel (6), Hutson (4), Byrd (2), Madkin (1), Vidacic (1) and Rothe (1).

Florida struggled behind the service line with 11 errors with Milica Vidacic dropping the Gators one ace, whereas UNC registered 5 within the sweep.

Records:

No. 11 Florida (4-2, 0-0 SEC)

No. 25 North Carolina (5-0, 0-0 ACC)

 

Series report:

12-2 (0-1 below Theis)

3-set: 6-2; 4-set: 4-0; 5-set: 2-0

Home: 4-0; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 4-0

 

How It Happened

Set 1

• After exchanging the opening factors, Florida was the primary to 5 (5-4) after a block from Hutson and Auguste. UNC scored three-straight to tug forward 10-8 and head into the media timeout with a 15-12 lead. The Gators grabbed the primary level following the break because of a device off the block from Madkin, however the Tar Heels responded with a kill and an ace to tug forward 18-13 and drive Coach Theis to name a timeout. Out of the huddle, back-to-back kills from Byrd inched Florida again inside two (16-18) to make UNC use their first timeout. A block from Stucky stored the momentum going, however service errors allowed North Carolina a 21-18 benefit. Back-to-back factors from UNC made it 23-18, however a tip from Byrd stored the Gators alive, as back-to-back blocks from Rothe and Stucky put Florida again inside two (21-23). Following Carolina’s second timeout, a block from Byrd and Rothe helped Florida tie it up at 23, however back-to-back kills from UNC gave the house staff a 25-23 set-one victory.
• Set 1 Stats | .242 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 12 Assists | 16 Digs | 6.0 Blocks (set-high) | 0 Aces
• UNC Stats| .143 Hitting %| 15 Kills | 11 Assists | 10 Digs | 2 Aces | 1.0 Blocks

Set 2

• After falling 3-6, a slide from Auguste inched the Gators again inside one earlier than UNC recorded back-to-back kills to drive for a Florida timeout after falling to a 4-8 deficit. Out of the huddle, UNC stored attacking, as they pulled forward to a 14-5 lead, because the Gators used their second timeout of the set. Out of the huddle, kills from Byrd and Rothe assist preserve the combat, however Carolina maintained a 10-point benefit till Vidacic subbed in off the bench to drop an ace and kickstart a 3-0 scoring run and inch inside seven (11-18) and drive a UNC timeout. Following the break, a solo block from Auguste stored the momentum going, as Florida pulled inside 5 (15-20) however the early lead combined with Gator service errors allowed UNC to come back away with a 25-18 win.
• Set 2 Team Stats | .209 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 11 Assists |12 Digs |1.0 Block | 1 Ace
• UNC Stats | .419 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 13 Assists | 10 Digs |2.0 Blocks | 1 Ace

Set 3

• A 3-0 scoring run from Florida allowed for a 5-4 lead, as back-to-back blocks led by Byrd allowed for an 11-7 benefit and drive UNC to name a timeout. Out of the huddle, Carolina responded with five-straight factors to tug forward by one (13-12) and make the Gators name a timeout. Following the break, UNC continued its momentum with a 5-3 scoring run to take a 19-15 benefit and drive Florida to make use of their second timeout heading into the ultimate moments of set three. A kill from Stucky adopted by a Carolina attacking error put the Gators again inside two (19-21) earlier than UNC went on a 4-2 scoring run out of a timeout to clinch the sweep after successful the third set 25-21.
• Set 3 Team Stats | .000 Hitting %|8 Kills |6 Assists |14 Digs | 4.0 Blocks | 0 Aces
• UNC Stats | .144 Hitting %| 11 Kills | 10 Assists |12 Digs |3.0 Blocks |2 Aces

Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:
“It’s tough to win on the road twice and I thought we did a nice job defensively, but was disappointed in our serve game tonight, one ace and 11 errors. We couldn’t get point runs to get any kind of lead established, but I really liked what our middles did in transition. North Carolina came out really well and we certainly didn’t match that from the service line.”

Notables

• Florida strikes to 2-1 in three-set matches this season.
• The Gators at the moment are 2-1 in highway matches.
• UF is now 1-2 in opposition to groups ranked within the AVCA Top-25
• Florida sits 1-1 when enjoying on a Tuesday.
• The Gators at the moment are 2-1 in September play.
• Florida is now 1-1 in opposition to ACC opponents.

Up Next
Florida returns to the O’Dome on Sunday, Sept. 14 for a top-20 showdown in opposition to No. 20 Baylor (5-1, 0-0 Big 12). First serve is ready for 1 p.m. ET and can air dwell on ESPN2 with Sam Gore and Missy Whittemore on the decision. Radio protection shall be supplied by Nick Cheronis and Tom Collett on ESPN 98.1/850 AM WRUF. The first 500 followers in attendance will obtain a 2025 Florida volleyball schedule magnet, whereas children 12 and below may have the chance to take house a Florida volleyball bucket hat and revel in face portray. Click right here to take a look at Florida volleyball’s 2025 house match themes and promotions.

vs. No. 20 Baylor

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