Post by bigfan on Nov 21, 2006 14:33:49 GMT -5
Delayed SEC celebration ensues after season-ending win
By JOSH ARMSTRONG
Alligator Writer
Defensive specialist Rhian Davis, after playing in her final regular-season match at the O'Connell Center, leapt into the pep band, hopping wildly and high-fiving anyone within reach.
The UF volleyball team (26-2, 19-1 Southeastern Conference) clinched sole possession of the SEC title with a 3-1 win at Tennessee on Friday. Then, after a sweep of Kentucky at home Sunday, UF finally got to celebrate.
Junior outside hitter Marcie Hampton high-skipped across the court, whipping a black SEC Championship shirt over her head.
Most of the Gators ran toward a small patch of fans near the band, among whom were six body-painted members of the UF soccer team.
But where was this outpouring one week ago, when the Gators clinched the conference title at home?
"We told the team we wouldn't celebrate until after the SEC season was over, so it's sort of been put on hold for a while," Wise said.
The championship celebration was magnified by a slug-out 30-25, 30-23, 32-30 victory against the Wildcats in which the Gators had to overcome a six-point deficit late in game three.
"We have won and lost from ahead, but we haven't won from behind - because we haven't been behind - very often," Wise said. "To come back like that in that situation says a lot (about UF)."
It was an ugly offensive match in the early going, as UF only hit .188 in game one to UK's .140.
"They had some good blocks, and when they get a couple blocks, it gets in your head," Hampton said. "You're trying to hit swings that maybe aren't there."
But the Gators got a spark from junior opposite hitter Amber McCray, who entered the match late in game one but managed to get 10 kills on .348 hitting.
Wise said that McCray still wasn't completely satisfied with her play.
"(Amber) told me right afterwards that she was disappointed in her blocking. That really tells you who Amber is," Wise said. "There are a lot of players who would love to hit (as she did Sunday), but Amber will look at blocking, see she didn't have a point and be a little disappointed."
Senior Stefanie Douglas started the match at opposite hitter but left in the first game with one kill on four attacks.
The Gators stumbled out of the gates in game three, falling behind 15-21.
Re-energized by four blocks in six points, UF upped its intensity, shed its sluggishness and took the game.
"We've never felt that you win because of emotion," Wise said. "But you can't win without it."
Davis, whose three serving aces were key in UF's game-one win, said the Gators' resurgence in game three was almost instantaneous.
"We had a little bit of trouble clicking out there," Davis said. "Then, I don't know - we just decided to turn it all on."
Hampton led the Gators in kills with 13. Junior middle blocker Kisya Killingswoth had 10 kills but six hitting errors.
On the defensive end, sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bowers had nine blocks, and freshman libero Elyse Cusack had a match-high 22 digs.
On Friday, junior setter Angie McGinnis' 61 assists made her the third UF player to reach 4,000 career assists and the fastest to do so. She has 4,077.
McCray had 21 kills in the Gators' 30-15, 30-28, 29-31, 30-28 win at Tennessee. Kelsey Bowers had 15 kills and six blocks.
By JOSH ARMSTRONG
Alligator Writer
Defensive specialist Rhian Davis, after playing in her final regular-season match at the O'Connell Center, leapt into the pep band, hopping wildly and high-fiving anyone within reach.
The UF volleyball team (26-2, 19-1 Southeastern Conference) clinched sole possession of the SEC title with a 3-1 win at Tennessee on Friday. Then, after a sweep of Kentucky at home Sunday, UF finally got to celebrate.
Junior outside hitter Marcie Hampton high-skipped across the court, whipping a black SEC Championship shirt over her head.
Most of the Gators ran toward a small patch of fans near the band, among whom were six body-painted members of the UF soccer team.
But where was this outpouring one week ago, when the Gators clinched the conference title at home?
"We told the team we wouldn't celebrate until after the SEC season was over, so it's sort of been put on hold for a while," Wise said.
The championship celebration was magnified by a slug-out 30-25, 30-23, 32-30 victory against the Wildcats in which the Gators had to overcome a six-point deficit late in game three.
"We have won and lost from ahead, but we haven't won from behind - because we haven't been behind - very often," Wise said. "To come back like that in that situation says a lot (about UF)."
It was an ugly offensive match in the early going, as UF only hit .188 in game one to UK's .140.
"They had some good blocks, and when they get a couple blocks, it gets in your head," Hampton said. "You're trying to hit swings that maybe aren't there."
But the Gators got a spark from junior opposite hitter Amber McCray, who entered the match late in game one but managed to get 10 kills on .348 hitting.
Wise said that McCray still wasn't completely satisfied with her play.
"(Amber) told me right afterwards that she was disappointed in her blocking. That really tells you who Amber is," Wise said. "There are a lot of players who would love to hit (as she did Sunday), but Amber will look at blocking, see she didn't have a point and be a little disappointed."
Senior Stefanie Douglas started the match at opposite hitter but left in the first game with one kill on four attacks.
The Gators stumbled out of the gates in game three, falling behind 15-21.
Re-energized by four blocks in six points, UF upped its intensity, shed its sluggishness and took the game.
"We've never felt that you win because of emotion," Wise said. "But you can't win without it."
Davis, whose three serving aces were key in UF's game-one win, said the Gators' resurgence in game three was almost instantaneous.
"We had a little bit of trouble clicking out there," Davis said. "Then, I don't know - we just decided to turn it all on."
Hampton led the Gators in kills with 13. Junior middle blocker Kisya Killingswoth had 10 kills but six hitting errors.
On the defensive end, sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bowers had nine blocks, and freshman libero Elyse Cusack had a match-high 22 digs.
On Friday, junior setter Angie McGinnis' 61 assists made her the third UF player to reach 4,000 career assists and the fastest to do so. She has 4,077.
McCray had 21 kills in the Gators' 30-15, 30-28, 29-31, 30-28 win at Tennessee. Kelsey Bowers had 15 kills and six blocks.