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The SEC champion and number eight national seed Florida volleyball team is ready to get the action started as the 2014 NCAA Tournament for four teams kicks off in Gainesville Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the NCAA First and Second Rounds.
Florida, the nation’s second best team in hitting efficiency, will square off with the Alabama State Lady Hornets at 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Friday with UCF and Miami kicking off Friday action at 4:30 p.m.
The winners of each first-round match square off Saturday at 7 p.m. for a shot to advance to the Ames, Iowa, Regional at Hilton Coliseum December 12-13.
The Gators enter the tourney riding a 20-match win streak. Florida downed third ranked Texas in Austin Saturday to cap off the regular season at 25-3 overall after going an undefeated 18-0 in SEC play to claim the program’s 21st SEC championship. Florida’s undefeated SEC season was its 13th in school history.
Gator head coach Mary Wise knows that her squad is ready for postseason play.
“In terms of how we look at the Gators we feel really good about where we are in terms of development. We’re a so much better team than we were a month ago, let alone back where we were in August. And so now what we hope is that we can play well, stay healthy, and let our talent take us as far as it does.”
The Gators have never faced Alabama State or Miami, but a potential meeting with UCF would be the second meeting between the two teams this season. UCF took the first set in the September 21st– contest, but Florida won the next three for a 3-1 decision in Gainesville.
Friday night’s match, and Saturday’s match (TBD), can be heard on ESPN 850 WRUF.
For comments from coach Wise, Mackenzie Dagostino, Alex Holston, Holly Pole, and Carli Snyder, click below:
Mary Wise talks about the upcoming NCAA Tournament
Wise on how this year differs from other years
Wise on the relationship between Alex Holston and Mackenzie Dagostino
Dagostino talks about the team’s mindset coming into NCAA Tournament play
Holston on the upcoming NCAA Tournament
Pole on preparing for back to back matches
Snyder on using the momentum from the season into the postseason
