Oct. 24, 2003
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Kentucky volleyball team was swept by the No. 3 Florida Gators, 3-0, on Friday, Oct. 24 in the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. The Wildcats hit just .046 to the Gators’ .429.
Kentucky (11-10, 3-6 Southeastern Conference) was led by Port Charlotte, Fla., native Danielle Wallace with nine kills and two blocks. The Cats’ other Florida native (Melbourne), Sarah Spinner, had seven kills on .176 hitting.
Florida, which has won the last 12 conference titles, opened up the match with an 8-0 run before UK finally got on the board with a kill by McCaslin. The Gators continued to build on their lead, stretching the margin to as much as 16 down the stretch en route to a 30-14 game one victory. The Wildcats hit -.100 to Florida’s .303. Wallace and McCaslin each tallied two kills in the game.
The Gators continued to dominate play to open the second stanza, busting out to a 10-3 lead, forcing a UK timeout. The Cats clawed back, cutting the lead to four at 11-7 on a Wallace killc, but couldn’t keep the streak alive, eventually falling 30-15 in the game. Kentucky’s .037 hitting could not overcome a potent UF offense, which saw the Gators hit .400 in the game.
The Wildcats started off on the right foot in game three, taking the first point on a Sarah Spinner putdown, but Florida quickly evened things to begin a 7-0 run. After a Kentucky timeout at 7-1, The Cats cut the advantage to four at 8-4 and again at 9-5, but that was as close as they would get as UF took the match with a 30-20 game three victory.
UK falls to 29-9 all-time against Florida. The teams meet again in Lexington on Senior Day – Sunday, Nov. 16 in Memorial Coliseum.
The Wildcats continue the weekend road trip at Georgia on Sunday, Oct. 26.
