Volleyball Preview: No. 23 Florida

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 22 Tennessee volleyball opens the final month of the regular season on the road Thursday as it travels to Gainesville, Florida, for a showdown with the 23rd-ranked Gators at Exactech Arena.

First serve Thursday night is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

BROADCAST INFO
Thursday's match can be streamed on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Live stats are also available and can be found by visiting the volleyball schedule page on UTsports.com.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Vols faced No. 5 Kentucky in their last match on Oct. 27 as the Wildcats edged the Orange & White in three sets.

RANKED AGAINST THE GATORS
Thursday night will be just the eighth meeting between Tennessee and Florida since 2001 that features both teams ranked in the AVCA top-25. Tennessee is 4-4 in those matchups, including a sweep of No. 13 Florida in 2018 when UT was ranked No. 22.

TENNESSEE BLOCK PARTY
Ava Bell and Danielle Mahaffey have Tennessee first in the SEC in blocks per set at 2.93. The average is third-best in the nation. The duo is also ranked in the top-10 in the conference in blocks per set with Mahaffey second in the league (1.39) and Bell ninth (1.12).

SETTING THE OFFENSE UP
Setter Natalie Hayward is the key cog in the Lady Vol attack as she averages 10.66 assists per set this season. The mark is fourth-highest in the SEC and ranks 28th nationally.

Hayward has a pair of 50-plus assist matches during the 2021 campaign and has added to her impressive numbers with a team-high 10 double-doubles.

WINDICATORS
UT is 12-0 this season when hitting .250 or better, and it is also 15-0 when out-digging its opponents. Under head coach Eve Rackham Watt, the Orange & White are 48-3 when hitting .250.

During Rackham Watt's tenure, the Lady Vols are 52-5 when winning the second set and hold a 14-1 mark when claiming the second set this season.

SCOUTING FLORIDA

2021 Record: 14-6 (8-2 SEC)

Series Record: Florida leads, 53-14-1

Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 – A three-set win for the Gators.

Key Player/Stat: Florida enters Thursday's meeting on a three-match win streak and is tied for second in the SEC with Mississippi State. The Gators feature a potent offensive attack led by T'ara Ceasar who averages 3.66 kills per set. Marlie Monserez keeps the offense in motion for Florida as she ranks third in the league and 13th in the nation with 11.01 assists per set.

Lauren Dooley and Bre Kelley are strong on the block for Florida as the duo average 1.18 and 1.00 blocks per set, respectively.

UP NEXT
Tennessee returns home Nov. 7 for a Sunday matinee against Ole Miss. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. ET and the match can be seen on ESPNU.

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Players Mentioned

Ava Bell

Natalie Hayward

Danielle Mahaffey

University of Tennessee Athletics