Gators Take Opening Set Before Falling to No. 4 Texas in Four

Last Updated: November 8, 2025By


GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida volleyball team opened the match with a hard-fought first-set win before ultimately falling to No. 4 Texas in four sets (31-29, 18-25, 19-25, 19-25) on Friday night in front of over 5,500 fans at the O’Dome.

With the SEC Allstate Volleyball Tournament approaching, the Gators currently sit fifth in the league with an 8-5 record, securing a first-round bye while just outside the top four seeds that earn both first- and second-round byes.

The Gators out-blocked the Longhorns 9.0-7.0 and recorded more aces (4-2) and digs (55-51), but hit .164 with 30 attacking errors compared to Texas’ .324 hitting clip and only 15 attacking errors.

Outside hitter Jordyn Byrd led the Gators with 15 kills, followed by middle blocker Jaela Auguste who added 14 kills on a .321 clip. Alec Rothe and Aniya Madkin finished with seven kills apiece, while Lauren Harden added three after providing a timely spark for the Gators.

Setter Alexis Stucky added three kills to her stat line in addition to 38 assists, while Taylor Parks contributed three assists and one dig after running the offense at the end of the third set.

Amaya Thomas had a notable performance on her senior night, having a season-best four kills, three blocks and one digs for 5.5 points.

At the net, eight Gators contributed at least one block assist with Auguste leading the way with four. Byrd and Stucky each added a solo block for two total, while Rothe also finished with two block assists.

Freshman libero Lily Hayes led Florida’s backcourt with 13 digs, while Ella Vogel (11) and Kira Hutson (10) also reached double digits. Stucky (5), Emily Canaan (4), Madkin (3) and Rothe (3) combined for 15 digs, with Auguste and Harden adding two each.

From the service line, Stucky recorded two of Florida’s four aces in the fourth set, while Vogel had one in the first set and Auguste added another in the third.

For Texas, outside hitter Torrey Stafford led the offense with 21 kills on a .346 hitting clip.

Prior to first serve, Florida recognized its four seniors, Emily Canaan, Emerson Hoyle, Alexis Stucky and Amaya Thomas.

Records:
RV Florida (13-8, 8-5 SEC)
No. 4 Texas (19-2, 11-2 SEC)
 
All-Time Series Record:
15-12 (0-1 under Theis)
3-set: 3-5; 4-set: 4-4; 5-set: 8-3
Home: 7-6; Away: 6-4; Neutral: 2-2
 
How It Happened
Set 1

  • Florida jumped out to a 5-1 lead after a block from Thomas and Rothe and extended its lead to 10-5 after Auguste and Madkin teamed up for another block to force an early Texas timeout. An ace from Vogel kept the momentum rolling and consecutive kills from Rothe followed by a block from Byrd and Thomas pushed the Gators ahead 17-8, making the Longhorns to use their second timeout. Texas responded out of the huddle, piecing together three separate 3-0 scoring runs to narrow the gap to four before sending the opening set to extra points after evening the score at 24-24. The teams battled point-for-point, but a block from Auguste and Stucky followed by a solo block from the setter sealed the 31-29 set-one win.

  • Set 1 Team Stats | .184 Hitting %| 19 Kills | 17 Assists | 17 Digs | 5.0 Blocks |1 Ace

  • Longhorns Stats | .200 Hitting %| 17 Kills | 17 Assists | 19 Digs |3.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

Set 2

  • After trailing 5-1, the Gators found their rhythm and went on a 7-1 scoring run behind offensive attacks from Byrd, Rothe and Thomas to take a 7-6 lead and force an early Texas timeout. Out of the break, the teams traded points through the middle of the frame before the Longhorns strung along back-to-back points for an 18-15 advantage. Stafford kept the Longhorns momentum going with two kills to extend their lead to six (21-15) and force a Florida timeout. The Gators kept the fight with kills from Auguste and Byrd, but Texas held on for a 25-18 win to even the match at 1-1.

  • Set 2 Team Stats |.219 Hitting %| 15 Kills | 14 Assists | 14 Digs | 1.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

  • Longhorns Stats | .344 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 12 Assists | 9 Digs | 2.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

Set 3

  • An ace from Auguste and a block from the sophomore and Stucky kept the Gators within one (6-7) at the start of set three, but the Longhorns responded with a pair of kills to gain a 15-10 lead heading into the media timeout. Out of the break, Texas went on a 4–1 scoring run to push ahead to 19-11, but offensive contributions from Auguste, Hutson and Rothe brought Florida back within four (18-23). Despite the late rally, the Gators were unable to complete the comeback and fell 19-25.

  • Set 3 Team Stats | .171 Hitting %| 10 Kills | 9 Assists |13 Digs | 2.0 Blocks |1 Ace

  • Longhorns Stats | .333 Hitting %|16 Kills | 16 Assists | 14 Digs | 1.0 Block | 1 Ace

Set 4

  • Florida opened the fourth set with a 5-3 lead following an service ace from Stucky, but the Longhorns stayed close and evened the score at eights after recording back-to-back kills. The teams traded points throughout the middle of the frame before a series of Florida errors gave Texas a three-point advantage (13-10). The Longhorns maintained control from there, committing just one hitting error on 29 attempts to secure the 25-19 fourth-set win.

  • Set 4 Team Stats |.083 Hitting %| 11 Kills | 11 Assists |11 Digs | 1.0 Block |2 Aces

  • Longhorns Stats | .483 Hitting %|15 Kills | 1 Assists | 9 Digs | 1.0 Block | 1 Ace

Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:
“I liked the fact that for a large chunk of the match, we were there in kills and ahead of them in blocks. We were scoring with them, which isn’t easy to do, but our inefficiencies continue to be an issue. Some of that’s experience and age for sure.”

Notables

  • The Gators are 6-4 in four-set matches this season.

  • When playing inside the O’Dome, Florida sits 7-2.

  • The Gators move to 1-2 against national ranked top-5 teams.

  • The Gators are now 4-5 against teams ranked in the AVCA Top-25.

  • When playing on a Friday, UF is 3-4.

  • During the month of November, Florida’s record is 0-2.

  • One player either set or tied career highs:

  • Three players either set or tied career highs:

  • Two players finished with double-digit kills:

  • Three players finished with double-digit digs:

 
Up Next

Florida returns home on Wednesday, Nov. 12, for a midweek matchup against No. 6 Texas A&M (19-3, 11-1 SEC) for the Gators Top Gator Military and First Responders Appreciation Night. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on SEC+, with Tom Collett (PxP) and Missy Whittemore (analyst) on the call.
 
vs. Texas A&M (19-3, 11-1 SEC) | Top Gator ‘Military & First Responders Appreciation’ Night
Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
Venue: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida
Promotion: Aviator sunglasses for the first 200 UF students
Buy Tickets: https://bit.ly/49LPyqe
Broadcast: SEC+ https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/6907869d-b065-44da-b045-009983bc786c
Talent: Missy Whittemore (Anaylyst) and Tom Collett (PxP)
Listen on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF: https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5770&type=Live
LiveStats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=600755
 
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