By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Ben Boynton)
Coming off two straight victories at home, the Alabama volleyball team lost in three sets on the road against No. 6 Florida on Sunday afternoon. The Crimson Tide fell, 25-18, 25-16 and 25-12 to drop the match. Alabama now finds itself with a 17-11 record, a 6-9 record in the SEC.
The Crimson Tide finished with a .000 hitting percentage in the match and just 21 kills, both of which are the lowest marks in SEC play for Alabama. The Gators posted a .368 hitting percentage.
The first set had eight tie scores early on before Florida took a 13-12 lead. The match was close for the next several points, as Florida held a 19-16 lead at Alabama’s first timeout. The Gators used a 4-1 run out of the break to take a 23-17 lead and force the Crimson Tide to call its second timeout. Shortly afterward, Florida took the set, 25-18.
The second set was also close toward the start. The Gators held a 7-6 lead that turned into a 10-6 gap after three straight points. Florida led at the media timeout, 15-10, and the Crimson Tide took its first timeout down, 20-14. Alabama called its second timeout while trailing, 22-15, but Florida won the set, 25-16, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Florida jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the third set that spurred Alabama to call its first timeout early. Alabama’s second timeout also came before the halfway point, as Florida’s 10-2 lead forced Alabama to burn its final timeout. Florida’s lead got into double digits and ultimately ended at 13 points, as the Gators won the frame, 25-12, to finish off the sweep.
Redshirt senior middle blocker Krystal Rivers had seven kills for the Crimson Tide. Rivers is now just 26 kills from first place in Alabama program history. She also had a season-high four service aces. Junior middle blocker Leah Lawrence had six kills and five blocks for the Crimson Tide, and senior outside hitter Brittany Thomas led the team in digs with 10.
Alabama will remain on the road for its next match. It will take on South Carolina on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in its only matchup with the Gamecocks this season.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
