Georgia Ends Fall Slate with 3-1 Loss at No. 5 Florida

Saturday, November 21

Gainesville, Fla.

5:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

4-4, 4-4SEC

Florida

6-2, 6-2SEC

GEORGIA

Florida

Georgia Ends Fall Slate with 3-1 Loss at No. 5 Florida

November 21, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team finished fall competition Saturday, falling to No. 5 Florida in four sets (24-26, 19-25, 25-13, 23-25) on the road. The Bulldogs conclude the fall at an even 4-4.

"I was proud of our team's fight today," said head coach Tom Black. "It came down to a handful of plays we just weren't able to execute and Florida did. I thought it was a hard-fought match and we'll grow tremendously from this weekend."

Sophomore Amber Stivrins notched her fourth 20-kill performance of the season, concluding with 23 kills and a .304 hitting clip. She also tallied her third double-double as a Bulldog with 10 digs. Sophomore Kacie Evans also picked up her second-straight double-double against the Gators with 12 kills and a career-best 17 digs.

Redshirt-sophomore Claire Rothenberger put up 16 digs on the back row. In her NCAA debut, redshirt-setter Alexa Fortin notched 20 assists with 15 digs for her first double-double. She also contributed a pair of aces. Fellow setter, redshirt-junior Dalaney Hans, tied her career-best 25 assists in the contest.

Much like the opening set of Friday's match, Florida (6-2) jumped out to an early lead, 4-1. Down 8-5, Georgia used a block by Evans and freshman Phoebe Awoleye followed by an Awoleye kill to tie it up at 8-8. Florida responded with four-straight to reopen its lead. Coming out of the first set media timeout, Georgia picked up three of the next four points to cut it to one again, 16-15. A 4-0 Bulldog rally later knotted it at 19. Both teams went back-and-forth, finding the stanza tied at 24 all. Florida was able to hold on and take the 1-0 lead in the match, 26-24. Stivrins recorded six first set kills while Evans tallied five of her own with five digs.

An early 6-1 run for the Bulldogs forced a quick timeout from the Gator bench, 6-3. Georgia continued to fire the offense to open a six-point lead at 13-7. With Georgia ahead 14-10, Florida went on a long 10-1 run to turn the tables and open a 20-15 lead on the Bulldogs. Florida rode the momentum to take the second set 25-19 and the 2-0 lead in the match.

Georgia came out in the third set and used four kills from Stivrins to take a 6-2 lead and force a quick Florida timeout. Holding on to a four-point lead, Georgia rolled on an 8-1 run to double up the score on the Gators, 22-11. The Bulldogs kept the momentum going to handedly take the third set, 25-13, holding Florida to a .031 hitting clip in the frame. The Bulldogs revved up its own hitting percentage to hit .321 in the set as Stivrins put up seven kills.

With a close start to the fourth set, a 4-0 Gator run opened a 12-9 lead, forcing a Bulldog timeout. The break proved effective as Georgia was able to cut it to one, 14-13. After Florida retook a three-point lead, Georgia responded with four-straight to find a 17-16 lead and force a second Florida timeout in the set. As Florida drew set point at 24-19, the Bulldogs did not go quietly as Georgia won four-straight to keep the match alive, 24-23. Thayer Hall ended the Georgia comeback with a kill to win the set and match, 25-23. Stivrins once again tallied seven kills to conclude the match.

Georgia expects to return to action in the spring. Details on the spring slate will come at a later date.