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The Gator volleyball team remained undefeated Sunday with a three-set sweep of the Georgia Bulldogs. While it seemed to be in hand for most of the match, the Gators once again were faced with an opportunity to show why they were the best team in the nation.
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What’s Life Without a Little Drama
Many people coming to the O’Connell Center Sunday afternoon were expecting an easy win. Who wouldn’t? The Gators have done well against the Bulldogs in the past and have swept them 11 times in a row. That streak was in jeopardy in the third set of the match.
The match became gradually more difficult for Mary Wise and her team as the game went along. The Gator squad handled the Bulldogs in the first set, faced some issues in the second, and in the third, Georgia seemed to figure things out in the third. Consistent runs, including a 5-0 run that made Wise use both of her timeouts early, had the Gators deep in a hole.
Down 19-24, the third set seemed all but lost. Enter Chanelle Hargreaves. A role-playing serve specialist who comes off of the bench in times like these to help the team with what she does best. Hargreaves was able to give critical serves and help the team go on a big run that would ultimately win the game.
Mary Wise talked about how the team loves to add some drama to the game and how Hargreaves helped them come out on top.
Hargreaves, as well as Cheyenne Huskey and Rachael Kramer who had vital blocks in the comeback, made Mary Wise look like a genius as her placement of these players helped the team move to 27-25 by the end.
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Consistency is Key
While the role-players had a hand late in this win, it was the offensive stars that shined for the entirety of the match. Rhamat Alhassan surprised no one today by playing the way she has all season. Leading the team in kills with 14 and having three blocks to go along with them. Alhassan talked about what the blueprint was to her good game.
Consistency seemed to be the key to this game. Alhassan spoke about how they needed to limit their errors and have a high IQ to make sure they stayed consistent and stayed ahead. When Georgia began to make runs Mary Wise felt the team was pressing a little bit. She mentions how this will not be acceptable on the road.
The Gators will test their consistency on the road in Oxford, Mississippi when they play Ole Miss next Friday.
What’s Next
The Gators take a small break before taking on Ole Miss Friday at 7:30 and Kentucky Sunday 1:00. Both will be tough matchups against good teams.
Errors continue to be an issue late in games for the Gators. They have been able to overcome them in the games so far, but many know that this will not last forever. Chanelle Hargreaves, the hero in today’s comeback, spoke on this issue of errors. How the squad needs to improve not just in that area, but every facet of the game to continue winning.
