The Tennessee Lady Vols volleyball team defeated the Florida Gators in front of the third largest crowd in school history. Thompson-Boling Arena was filled with 1,532 orange and white fans as the Lady Vols defeated the Gators in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-15, and 25-22.

The Lady Vols (21-7, 14-4 Southeastern Conference) took a hard loss to the 13th-ranked Florida (20-5, 14-4) in the first set. The Lady Vols built a 16-8 lead to open the match, but the Florida Gators stormed back to tie the game at 19-19. The Lady Vols offensive stalled and the Gators took advantage. A kill by Kristy Jaeckel gave the Gators the 25-22 win.

Head Coach Rob Patrick was proud of how his team battled back.

"This was just a great win for our program. Our team played a very focused and determined match. We could have easily packed our bags after the first set, but we showed tremendous resiliency in fighting for each point the rest of the way," Patrick said.

In the second second set Tennessee fell to a 9-15 deficit.

The Lady Vols battled back to tie the set at 21-21. An attack error by the Gators gave the set to the Lady Vols, 25-23. The third set was dominated by the Lady Vols from the start. After jumping out to a 16-7
lead, the Lady Vols eliminated the chance of another Florida comeback.

Tennessee finished off the set to win 25-15. The Lady Vols ended the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth set.

Tennessee was led by junior Nikki Fowler who followed up her SEC Offensive Player of the Week award with outstanding play. Fowler had a match-high 19 kills and 16 digs, her 12th consecutive double-double.

Tennessee will host South Carolina at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon when the Lady Vols will celebrate Senior Day at Thompson-Boiling Arena. Four seniors will be honored before the game: Goldman, Marshall, Powe and Carol Cheade. 

Tennessee will close out the regular season with No. 11 Kentucky on Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside Thompson-Boiling Arena.