Image Credit: ESPN Images
Friday was a banner night for the Florida Gators at the onset of the 2017-18 athletic season as, within a couple hours of one another, the Florida soccer and volleyball teams each defeated the No. 1 team in the nation at home in Gainesville, Florida.
Soccer (3-0) earned a tight 3-2 win over the Stanford Cardinal (2-1), and No. 12 volleyball (1-0) opened its season with a 3-1 takedown of the Texas Longhorns (0-1).
Gators soccer trailed twice against the Cardinal at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, tying the game with a header by redshirt senior midfielder Gabby Seller from 3 yards out at 79′ and eventually winning with a 6-yard strike from junior MF Lais Araujo at 82′.
Volleyball was in the middle of its match with Texas at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center during that time and eventually prevailed in four sets (25-16, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21). Senior outside hitter Carli Snyder led the way with 14 kills and 20.5 points along with 20 digs and six aces, while sophomore middle back Rachael Kramer hit at a .391 rate with 11 kills and 13.5 points on the evening.
The victory for UF soccer was its second all-time over a No. 1-ranked team in Gainesville (2-1-1) and its first in history over Stanford (4-1-1). The program did not have statistics about its record against top-ranked teams on the road and at neutral sites available.
DOWN GOES TOP-RANKED STANFORD!! 👏🏽
Don't worry, we have you covered with the THRILLING highlights! #GoGators #WeChomp #TheGatorWay pic.twitter.com/cCwBZ7xUwD
— Gators Soccer (@GatorsSoccer) August 26, 2017
Florida volleyball also picked up its second win all-time over a No. 1-ranked team at home (2-3), and it’s now 3-14 against top-ranked opponents.
IT'S IN!!!! #Gators defeat #Texas 3-1!! #MatchPoint #GatorsWin pic.twitter.com/7tiCHZ4IMf
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) August 26, 2017
Though it is early in the season, both victories should give the Gators women plenty of confidence as they begin long seasons that do not conclude until the late fall.
Two #1 ranked opponents taken down in a single night? That's Florida. Congrats @GatorsSoccer & @GatorsVB!! #GoGators
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) August 26, 2017
Great game Gators Volleyball! That's the 2nd #1 team Gators sports beat in one night…ITS GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!
— ahmad black (@ahmadblack35) August 26, 2017