Florida volleyball saw its season come to an end on Thursday night when Stanford secured a four-set victory over UF in Louisville, Kentucky. This marked Florida’s 30th trip to the NCAA Regional Semifinals.
The end of the fourth set was an intense battle, with each team fighting to keep its season alive. Both teams reached set point multiple times in the set. No. 22 Florida fought, after No. 5 Stanford led 24-23.
An attack error from the Cardinal put the Gators at match point 25-24. However, Stanford came back to tie the set 27-27.
A Florida attack error put Stanford up 28-27. Eventually, a kill from junior outside hitter Elia Rubin solidified the win for Stanford 29-27, officially knocking Florida out of the tournament.
Stanford started out with a small lead in the first set, but kills from UF sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Martin and freshman middle blocker Jaela Auguste built Florida’s momentum as it went on.
Florida played lockdown defense through the evening, with fifth-year libero Elli McKissock finishing the night with 13 digs.
The Gators took their first lead of the set 12-11, prompting a Stanford timeout. After Stanford reached set point 24-23, a service error from the Cardinal put the set into extra points.
Martin secured a kill to put the Gators at set point 25-24. Junior middle blocker Amaya Thomas and senior redshirt outside hitter Isabel Martin would go on to combine for a block that handed Florida the set.
The Cardinal started the second set with a 4-0 run, thanks in part to kills across the board and numerous Florida errors.
After more UF miscues and successful Stanford offense, Florida head coach Mary Wise called a timeout as the Cardinal led 22-16. Stanford won the second frame 25-17 off a kill from redshirt freshman outside hitter Ipar Kurt.
Florida initially started set three with a 5-2 lead, but Stanford quickly tied things back up at 5-5. Freshman middle blocker Alec Rothe later put up a block to bring the Gators to a 12-11 lead.
Kills from Auguste and Kennedy Martin bought the Gators more time in the third set, tying the score at 24-24.
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After battling into extra points once again, Stanford claimed the frame 26-24.
The fourth set saw Kennedy Martin secure the 1,000th kill of her collegiate career. She finished the night with 21 kills.
However, more Stanford kills launched the Cardinal in the lead 21-20 late in the set, resulting in a timeout from the Gators.
An attack error from Florida off the timeout initially kept Stanford’s momentum going. Kennedy Martin countered with a kill, tying the match 22-22.
After battling it out in extra points for the third time in the match, Stanford pulled away with the victory 29-27.
Florida finished its 2024 season 23-8 and 11-5 in the SEC.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.
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