Razorbacks Win Five-Set Thriller over Florida on Senior Day

For the first time in program history, Arkansas has taken down Florida twice in one season as the No. 10 Hogs took down the No. 20 Gators 3-2 on Sunday.

It was Arkansas’ first win over Florida at home since 2015, and just the fifth victory over the Gators in program history. The Hogs are now 24-4 overall and 14-2 in SEC play.

Graduate hitter Jill Gillen led the way on Senior Night with 26 kills, the most of any Razorback this season. She also added 11 digs for a double-double, her 15th of the season.

Senior Taylor Head had a double-double with 19 kills and 14 digs, her 18th of the season and 56th in her career, the second-most in program history. Graduate Maggie Cartwright recorded a double-double as well on the special evening with 13 kills and 17 digs.

Junior setter Hannah Hogue again paced the Hog offense well with 50 assists, 14 digs, and set a new career high in kills with four.

There were 3,749 fans in attendance on Sunday, the second-highest attended match ever for the Razorbacks. Seven of the top 10 best-attended games in program history have now come in 2023.

Set 1

The first set was tight to start but Arkansas went on a five-point run highlighted by an ace and a kill from Head and made it 9-5 Razorbacks. Arkansas held the lead from there but the Gators strung together five straight not long after and took a 14-13 advantage. The Hogs righted the ship eventually and used a five-point run with three kills from Head for a 19-15 lead. The push was enough to sustain a comfortable edge through the end for the Razorbacks, and a kill from Cartwright closed it 25-20 for Arkansas.

Set 2

The second set was a game of runs again as the two teams traded point streaks for the lead midway through the set. The Gators had the score tied, but Arkansas scored two points off a kill from head and a solo block from Sania Petties for a 15-14 lead at the media break. It was tied three times from there, but Florida locked in and rattled off five straight to get to set point. Arkansas added one to spoil it, but a kill finished it 25-21 for the Gators and knotted the match.

Set 3

The Hogs found themselves chasing early after the Gators used an 8-3 run to go up 13-10 in the third set. Arkansas called time and regrouped from there. The Hogs scored five of the next six and regained the lead. The Gators huddled, but it wasn’t much use as the Razorbacks went on another run and pushed the lead to 19-15. Florida called time again and cut the deficit to two, but Arkansas continued to roll. A kill and a Florida error shut the door 25-20 and put the Hogs back up 2-1 in the set.

Set 4

Yet again the two teams exchanged blows early until the Gators found a way to break through and took a 13-9 advantage. After a timeout, the Hogs cut the lead to two, but a 5-1 Florida run pushed it to 18-12, and the Razorbacks huddled again. The Razorbacks couldn’t find a lasting answer though and while they were able to trim the deficit to four at one point, a Florida kill finished it 25-19 for the visiting team and forced a fifth set.

Set 5

The fifth set was tight nearly all the way through with five ties midway through, but the Gators took a one-point lead at 8-7 as the teams switched sides. The Hogs tied it up twice before Florida regained a narrow 11-10 lead, but kills by Cartwright and Head provided a spark the Razorbacks needed for a 12-11 edge that sent Florida to a timeout. Cartwright added another, which prompted the Gators’ second timeout, but there was no stopping the Hogs as they cruised through the next two points for a 15-11 set victory that clinched the 3-2 match win.

Up Next

Arkansas closes out its home schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 22 as the Hogs take on No. 12 Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Barnhill Arena.

More Information

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