Bulldogs Fall on the Road to #12 Florida, 3-1

Sunday, September 29

Gainesville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of Georgia

9-4, 1-1SEC

Florida

11-2, 2-0SEC

Georgia

Florida

Photo by: Tim Casey

September 29, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision on the road at #12 Florida Sunday afternoon (25-22, 21-25, 23-25, 17-25).

Sunday's loss snaps the Bulldogs' (9-4, 1-1) winning streak at six games.

Freshman Kacie Evans concluded with 16 kills, tying a season best, and her seventh double-digit kill performance of her rookie campaign. Junior Kianna Young (12) and sophomore Mallory Hernandez (10) also topped the double-digit kill mark in the match.

Senior setter Meghan Donovan recorded her second double-double of the weekend, finishing with 47 assists and 10 digs. Junior libero Kendall Glover also concluded with 10 digs. On the net, sophomores Sage Naves and Kayla Rivera co-led the team with four blocks each.

The start of the match began point-for-point. Down 7-6, Georgia used a 4-1 run to find a lead. The Bulldogs continued to build on the lead, leading by as much as nine at 23-14. Florida (11-2, 2-0) was able to halt the Bulldogs late in the set, going on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 23-20. Georgia drew set point, but Florida continued its run to cut the lead to 24-22. Hernandez's fourth kill of the opening set secured the 1-0 lead in the match, 25-22. Evans tallied six kills in the first set, hitting .500 with no errors. As a team, the Bulldogs hit .455 in the opening frame with only one attack error.

Georgia used momentum from the first set to open the second, going ahead 4-1. Florida quickly tied it at four all then opened a slight lead, prompting a Bulldog timeout, 12-9. Back-to-back aces for Florida put the Gators ahead 17-11. The Bulldogs then began chipping away at the lead, winning six of the next eight rallies to slice the lead to 19-17.  The Gators were able to fend off the advancing Bulldogs to win the second set and tie up the match, 25-21. Evans matched her kill count in the second set, beginning the third with 12 to her name, her seventh of her freshman campaign.

A 7-1 run gave the Bulldogs an 11-5 lead in the third set, one they built on to lead by as much as eight, 19-11. Florida began chipping away at the Bulldogs' lead then striking with a 6-0 run to overtake Georgia late, 23-22. A Gator block error tied the set at 23 but Florida won the next two points to snatch the set away, 25-23, and take a 2-1 lead in the match. Young led the charge in the set with five kills followed by four from Rivera.

Once again, Georgia held an early advantage in the fourth set, 7-4. Florida responded to tie the set and capture the lead. The Bulldogs were able to cut the lead to 20-16; however, Florida closed it out with a 5-1 lead to win the match, 25-17.

Georgia begins the month of October at home with two matches next weekend at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia hosts Tennessee Friday at 7 p.m. then plays host to Alabama Sunday at 2 p.m.

Head Coach Tom Black
On Sunday's match and the team's fight…
"It was a tough match with some good volleyball and some stretches we'd like to take back. I think we know we can compete and we're putting some pressure on it. We wish it was going five; but we can play, we've just got to keep getting better, getting more consistent."

On what Georgia will work on in the gym this week…
"We just have to keep pushing, keep getting better. I think we're doing a good job of getting better week to week."