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After two impressive wins, the seventh-ranked Florida Gator volleyball welcomes the number one team in the land, Stanford, to the O’Connell Center on Wednesday. Also, Stanford is the second of three ranked teams Florida will face in the first week of the season.
Home Opener 🔜
🎟️: https://t.co/sF4WNRFWla#GoGators pic.twitter.com/Xmwd4TJV3j
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 3, 2019
Scouting Stanford
Florida defeated Stanford in five sets in the 2017 national semifinals. Now, Stanford enters as the defending national champions on a 34-game winning streak.
Kevin Hambly’s team opened the season 2-0 with sweeps over Charleston and Duke. They outhit those teams .391 to .133 in those matches.
Moreover, this Cardinal squad boasts three returning first team All-Americans including three-time first team member and repeat National Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer.
Plummer sits tied for fifth all-time in career kills per set and is good position to crack the top 10 for career kills at 1,559. She led the way over the weekend hitting at a .431 clip with 28 kills.
"Two titles in three years teaches you to turn the page."#NextStartsNow pic.twitter.com/WlVJTKk3Wo
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) September 2, 2019
Additionally, six of their returning players were on Stanford’s championship teams in 2016 and 2018. Four of them see significant time with one being Plummer: some other players of note include the following…
- Jenna Gray (S) – Setter of the Year 2017 & 2018, ranks third in career assists per set (11.09)
- Audriana Fitzmorris (OPP) – two-time second team All-America, seventh in career total blocks (505)
- Morgan Hentz (L) – Libero of the Year 2017 & 2018, career leader in digs per set and third in total digs
Gators Earn Several Honors
The SEC recognized three Gators for their play last weekend in Marlie Monserez, Rachael Kramer and Thayer Hall.
Hall was named both Offensive Player of the Week and overall Player of the Week. She averaged 4.62 kills per set, including 25 in the comeback win over Dayton, along with two double-doubles.
Congrats to @Rachael5Kramer for earning Defensive Player of the Week honors! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/yjUtVyjCI7
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 3, 2019
The SEC crowned Kramer Defensive Player of the Week after she averaged over a block per set, including five in the sweep of number 25 Louisville. Furthermore, Kramer posted 18 kills on the weekend.
The sophomore Monserez earned her first Setter of the Week award. She put up a career-best 50 assists in the win over Dayton and threw in five kills in the victory over Louisville.
& congrats to @marliemonz for earning Setter of the Week honors! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/YN1LoUeer1
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) September 3, 2019
How to Watch
Fans who can’t make the game can watch it on the SEC Network and listen to coverage on ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF.
Florida was tested at the Cardinal Classic on Sunday, and this match will be sure to give the Gators more learning opportunities. This time they’ll have the home court advantage.
