Friday was a tale of two outcomes for University of Florida sports teams, with soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball all in action across the country. The most important game of the day was No. 8 Florida Gators soccer (15-5-2, 8-1-2 SEC) taking on No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks (17-3-1, 7-3-1 SEC) in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference Championship Tournament in Orange Beach, AL.

After winning the regular season and defeating the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round, the Gators fell 1-0 to the Gamecocks. Ironically enough, Florida defeated South Carolina 3-0 one week ago in Gainesville, FL, to clinch the SEC regular season title. The Gamecocks scored their lone deciding goal off of a penalty kick at 10:36 in the first half, the first to be successfully scored against the Gators all season.

Also in action were players from the school’s tennis teams. Freshman Allie Will dropped a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 decision to Pichittra Thongbach of the Boise State Broncos in the round of 16 at the ITA National Indoor Tennis Championships. Considered the second leg of the collegiate Grand Slam, Will was the lone Florida female to earn a spot in the event and now holds a 20-3 singles record and 13-3 doubles mark on the season. The men’s doubles team of junior Alexandre Lacroix and redshirt senior Antoine Benneteau, who were previously undefeated, lost an ITA quarterfinal match 8-6 to Tennessee’s Boris Koncic and Rhyne Williams. Lacroix, who was also competing in singles consolation action, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 over Patricio Alvarado of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

Last but certainly not least on the evening was No. 9/11 Gators volleyball (19-3, 13-2 SEC), who earned their seventh consecutive sweep of a league opponent by taking down the Georgia Bulldogs (14-11, 5-9 SEC) 25-16, 25-20, 25-14. Four Florida players hit better than .500 and sophomore hitters Kristy Jaeckel and Kelly Murphy combined for 23 kills on the night in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Volleyball will be back in action on Sunday against the Auburn Tigers in Gainesville at 1:30 p.m. The match will air live on Sun Sports.

Tags: Alexandre Lacroix, Allie Will, Antoine Benneteau, Auburn Tigers, Boise State Broncos, Boris Koncic, Georgia Bulldogs, ITA National Indoor Tennis Championships, Kelly Murphy, Kristy Jaeckel, O'Connell Center, Patricio Alvarado, Pichittra Thongbach, Rhyne Williams, SEC, SEC Championship, soccer, South Carolina Gamecocks, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tennessee Volunteers, tennis, University of Florida, volleyball

On Monday, Florida Gators senior quarterback Tim Tebow was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award honoring the nation’s best college quarterback. The oldest and most prestigious quarterback award, candidates are evaluated on quarterback skills, athletic ability, academics, team spirit, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

The O’Brien Award often goes along with the Heisman Trophy as it did the last two years with Tebow winning it on 2007 and Oklahoma Sooners QB Sam Bradford taking it home in 2008. Tebow is one of 15 semifinalists; finalists for the award will be announced Nov. 23.

Along with Tebow, University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer was honored Monday, being named to the watch list for the Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award. The only college coaching award voted on after all bowl games are played, finalists for it will be announced in late December before the awards dinner takes place in Houston, TX, on Jan. 14, 2010. Meyer has absurdly never won the award, having been beaten out by the Boise State Broncos’ Chris Peterson in 2006 and the Utah Utes‘ Kyle Whittingham in 2008.

Tags: Boise State Broncos, Bryant Award, Chris Peterson, Davey O'Brien Award, Kyle Whittingham, Oklahoma Sooners, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, University of Florida, Urban Meyer, Utah Utes