Fischer, Haugen Have Career Day in Five-Set Loss to No. 3 Florida

Sunday, September 24

Gainesville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of Georgia

9-4,0-1SEC

Florida

10-1,2-0SEC

Georgia

Florida

Fischer, Haugen Have Career Day in Five-Set Loss to No. 3 Florida

September 24, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Georgia volleyball team fell in a five-set battle on the road to third-ranked Florida Sunday evening, 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 11-15).

Georgia stands at 9-4 on the season and 0-1 after dropping its SEC opener to the Gators (10-1, 2-0).

Sophie Fischer laid down a career-best 20 kills, her first 20-kill match of her career. Sophomore Estelle Haugen recorded a career-best 18 kills behind Fischer while hitting .310 on the outside. Kacie Evans matched Haugen's 18 kills in the contest.

Setter Clara Brower recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 51 assists and 14 digs. Haugen picked up her first career double-double with 15 digs, also a career best to go along with her 18 kills.

Defensively, Bailey Cox put up 11 digs while Fischer tallied nine blocks.

Georgia began the match winning seven of the first eight points, exhausting an early Gator timeout in the opening set, 7-1. A 6-1 Florida run cut into Georgia's lead, 10-8. Florida tied the set at 11, then again at 14 before three-straight put Georgia back out in front 17-14. The Bulldogs called their first timeout holding on to a one-point lead, 18-17. Back-to-back service aces out of the timeout gave the Gators their first lead, 19-18. Georgia responded with back-to-back points, but Florida strung together three points to find their largest lead of the match to that point, 22-20 and exhausting both UGA timeouts. Florida held on to complete the comeback in the opening set, 25-22. Evans tallied five kills in the first.

Knotted at five in the second set, three-straight Gator points put Florida in front. Georgia kept it tight, trailing by two at the media timeout 15-13. A Brower ace tied the set at 16 before back-to-back Florida points prompted the first Georgia timeout of the set, 18-16. Trailing 19-18, Georgia won four of the next five rallies to go ahead 23-21 and prompt Florida's second timeout. The Dogs held on to take the second set 25-22 and tie the match at a set apiece. Haugen had six kills in the second set.

All square at 8-all, Georgia strung together a 6-1 run to go ahead 14-9, capped by a Haugen ace. Florida responded with four straight to cut the lead to 14-12. Florida tied it at 16 but Georgia held on to the lead. Tied again, this time at 19, a 3-0 Georgia run put Georgia ahead 22-19 down the stretch. With the Gators on their tails, a kill and an ace from Fischer wrapped the set 25-22 and gave Georgia the 2-1 lead in the match.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-1 fourth set lead, but Florida regrouped to go ahead 5-4. After a quick back-and-forth battle, Florida went ahead 10-8 to prompt a UGA timeout. A 5-0 Ana Julia Bleeker serving run put Georgia ahead 14-13 in the frame. A back-and-forth battle ensued. Tied at 21, back-to-back Gator kills put Florida in front 23-21 and Georgia called a timeout. Georgia cut it to one twice, but Florida held on to win the set 25-23 and force a fifth set.

Georgia jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, prompting a Gator timeout. After the break, Florida used a 5-1 run to tie the set at 7 and force a Bulldog timeout. Down 9-8, Florida strung together three straight to go up 11-9 and exhaust all of Georgia's timeouts. A Gator service error and a Haugen kill cut it to one, 12-11. Florida fended off the Bulldogs to win the fifth set and the match, 15-11.

Next up, Georgia returns to Athens to host No. 22 Kentucky at Ramsey Student Center. The Bulldogs and Wildcats are slated for first serve at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 live on SEC Network.