No. 25 Gators Struggle Behind Service Line and Fall in Four at South Carolina

Last Updated: November 2, 2025By


COLUMBIA, S.C. –  The No. 25 Florida volleyball team concluded its three-match road stretch with a four-set loss (22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 24-26) to South Carolina on Sunday afternoon inside the Carolina Volleyball Center.

Offensively, the Gators registered more kills (63-52) and assists (57-48) than the Gamecocks, but tallied a season-high 15 service errors, while South Carolina had only seven service errors.

Alexis Stucky dished out 45 assists and added 12 dig and five kills to her stat line for her 13th double-double of the season. The setter guided four Gators to double-digit digs, as middle blocker Alec Rothe hitting .476 to finished with 13 kills. Outside hitter Jordyn Byrd also had a match-high 13, while, while Freshman Milica Vidacic followed with 12 and middle blocker Jaela Auguste had 10 kills for her second-consecutive match in double-digits. Additionally, outside hitter Aniya Madkin pitched in seven and sophomore Lauren Harden recorded one after subbing in late during the fourth set.

At the net, Florida was out blocked 9.0-11.0, but held the Gamecocks to a .214 hitting clip while hitting .247. Rothe posted a team-high five blocks, having two solo blocks. Auguste and Byrd followed with three each, while Vidacic, Madkin and Kira Hutson all added one.

In the backcourt, freshman libero Lily Hayes led the way with a match-high 18 digs and added four assists to the stat sheet. Senior Emily Canaan had a season-best 12, while Hutson (6), Ella Vogel (3), Auguste, (2), Byrd (2), Rothe (2) and Vidacic (2) combined for 17 of Florida’s 59 team digs.

Stucky recorded back-to-back aces in the fourth set and Vogel recorded one in the third.

South Carolina’s Elise Marchal led the Gamecocks offensively with 11 kills for a .409 hitting clip.  

Records:

No. 25 Florida (13-8, 8-3 SEC)

South Carolina (9-13, 3-9 SEC)

 

All-time series record

64-13 (0-1 under Theis)

3-set: 47-3; 4-set: 13-5; 5-set: 4-4

Home: 33-2; Away: 29-9; Neutral: 2-1

 

How It Happened

Set 1

  • After exchanging leads at the start of set one, a block from Byrd and Rothe followed up by a block from Hutson and Rothe notched it up at sevens. The two teams battled point-for-point, as contributions from Rothe and a kill from Byrd allowed Florida a 15-14 lead heading into the media timeout. Following the break, Gator attacking and service errors allowed the Gamecocks to hang around and take a 20-19 lead forcing a Florida timeout. With the race to 25 inching near, the Gators fell behind by two (21-23) and was unable to make the comeback, falling 22-25.

  • Set 1 Team Stats | .205 Hitting %|14 Kills | 13 Assists | 14 Digs |3.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

  • South Carolina Stats | .229 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 11 Assists | 16 Digs | 1.0 Block | 1 Aces

Set 2

  • The Gators called an early timeout after falling to a 6-2 deficit. Following the break, Florida regrouped and went on a 6-2 scoring run with Hayes behind the service line to tie it up 9-9. Points were exchanged throughout the middle of the frame, with the Gamecocks taking a one-point lead (15-14) halfway through set two. Back-to-back kills from Byrd and Rothe put Florida in the lead, but South Carolina responded with back-to-back aces to gain a 18-16 lead and force the Gators to use their second timeout. Florida kept the fight, as a kill from Vidacic and a solo block from Auguste allowed for a one-point lead (20-19) and forced a South Carolina timeout. Kills from Auguste and Madkin inched Florida closer to set-point, but late attacking errors allowed the Gamecocks a 3-0 scoring run for a 25-23 second-set win.    

  • Set 2 Team Stats | .190 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 13 Assists | 10 Digs |3.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

  • South Carolina Stats | .188 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 13 Assists | 14 Digs | 2.0 Blocks | 2 Aces

Set 3

  • With work to do, an ace from Vogel put Florida ahead 5-3 at the start of set three and kills from Rothe and Vidacic allowed the Gators to maintain a two-point advantage throughout the middle of the frame. A dump from Stucky followed by a slide assist to Auguste sent Florida into the media timeout with a 15-11 lead. A kill from Byrd, a block from the outside hitter and Rothe and a solo block from the middle blocker extended the Gators lead to seven (19-12) and forced a Gamecock timeout. Out of the break, South Carolina kept the fight and inched back within five after back-to-back blocks, but a kill from Vidacic ended the Gamecocks 4-0 rally. A tip from Hutson made it set-point Florida and a kill from Vidacic sealed the 25-18 victory.  

  • Set 3 Team Stats | .389 Hitting %| 17 Kills |16 Assists | 16 Digs | 2.0 Blocks | 1 Ace

  • South Carolina Stats | .162 Hitting %| 12 Kills | 10 Assists | 13 Digs | Blocks | 0 Aces

Set 4

  • Florida was first on the board after back-to-back points from Vidacic, but the Gamecocks responded with back-to-back blocks to take a 6-3 lead. Three-straight kills from Byrd tied it up at seven, as an attacking errors from South Carolina gave the Gators a 8-7 lead and force the home team to call a timeout. Back-to-back aces from Stucky stretched Florida’s lead to 11-8, but the Gamecocks dropped an ace of their own to inch back within one (11-10). The Gators were the first to 15 after an attack from Auguste, as defensive effort from Vogel pushed the lead to 17-14. Service and attacking errors allowed South Carolina to even the score at 18 and Florida called a timeout. Kills from Rothe and Vidacic made it 20-19 Florida. With the race to 25 inching near, an open net allowed Harden to put one down after subbing in, but the Gamecocks kept the fight to notch it up at 22. Both teams battled point-for-point to send the set into extra points, before South Carolina was able to string two points together for a 26-24 win.

  • Set 4 Team Stats | .222 Hitting %| 18 Kills | 15 Assists | 19 Digs |1.0 Blocks |2 Aces

  • South Carolina Stats | .268 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 14 Assists | 18 Digs | 5.0 Blocks |1 Ace

Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:

“Errors caught up with us today, both from a serve and attacking perspective. South Carolina played a much cleaner match.”

Notables

  • The Gators move to 6-3 in four-set matches this season.

  • Florida is now 5-6 in road matches in the 2025 campaign.

  • When playing on a Sunday, UF sits 7-4.

  • The Gators open November play 0-1.

  • Alexis Stucky recorded her 13th double-double of the season, No. 23 of her career, with 45 assists and 13 digs.

  • Four players recorded double-digit kills:

  • Three players recorded double-digit digs:

  • Lily Hayes recorded her 300th dig of her career in the first set. The freshman now has 314 overall digs.

  • Jaela Auguste surpassed 200 career blocks this weekend, having 205.

 
Up Next

The Gators return to the O’Dome for their next two conference matchups, welcoming No. 2 Texas and No. 9 Texas A&M. Florida will honor its four seniors, Emily Canaan, Emerson Hoyle, Alexis Stucky and Amaya Thomas, on Friday, Nov. 7 prior to the Gators 7 p.m. matchup against the Longhorns. Florida will then welcome the Aggies for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.  Click here to check out Florida volleyball’s 2025 home match themes and promotions.
 
Nov. 7 (Fri) vs. Texas (17-2, 10-1 SEC)| Senior Night & Club Sports Night

Texas All-Time Series Record 15-11 (0-0 under Theis)
3-set: 3-5; 4-set: 4-3; 5-set: 8-3
Home: 7-5; Away: 6-4; Neutral: 2-2
 
vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (18-3, 10-1 SEC)| Top Gator ‘Military & First Responders Appreciation’ Night

Texas A&M All-Time Series Record 23-2 (0-0 under Theis)
3-set: 9-0, 4-set: 9-0; 5-set: 5-2
Home: 10-1; Away: 12-1; Neutral: 1-0
 
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