UK volleyball took down No. 1 Florida on the road Sunday 3-1, and the win was the first in Kentucky’s program history against a No. 1 ranked team. This win also ended Florida’s hopes of an undefeated season.

This game was one of runs. From the start, both teams came onto the court competing, but Kentucky obtained the first run (4-0), and led the Gators 8-5 in the first set.

Kentucky started to run away with the lead as they extended it to 12-7, but the Gators did not give into the pressure. Outside hitter Shainah Joseph delivered a kill for the Gators and sent Florida into a 5-0 run against the Cats.

Florida cut the lead short against the Cats, but setter Madison Lilley kept the Gators defense guessing with her placement of the ball all over the court.

The Gators were battling like a No. 1 ranked team. However, UK ran their offense and their multiple options with their hitters and that was difficult for Florida to defend, giving the Cats the first set 25-20.

After the loss of the first set, Florida went into the second set and attacked early, which gained them a 3-0 lead over the Cats.

The second set was much like the first set, a close one. However, Lilley contributed an important play for the Cats with a hard kill to Florida’s defense, and that gave UK a 16-13 advantage in the set.

Two back-to-back block plays by the Cats threw off Florida’s offense and sent them into a timeout.

After the timeout, UK kept the lead over Florida and won the second set 25-22.

Going into the third set Kentucky was up 2-0 in the series, and they did not relax as they gained a 5-1 run to start the set.

UK extended the lead and held Florida down, leading the set 13-7. However, the Gators fought back, starting with sophomore Rachel Kramer.

She posted 15 kills for the Gators, but the tip play that was crucial for her team was in the third set and it sent the Gators on a 5-0 run, which cut the lead for Florida to one point.

The Gators came back from a 13-7 deficit and controlled the tempo of the third set, which allowed them to take the set 25-23 over Kentucky.

In the fourth set the Cats couldn’t be contained. They set and executed their offense and again gained a 13-7 lead over the Gators. They dominated the entire fourth set and won it by the largest margin of the game, 25-16.

A key element for the Cats in their win over the Gators was Lilley. She posted 52 assists for the Cats, continuing her dominant start to her UK career, and her decisions on which hitters to set the ball to was a dangerous weapon for the Cats.

Kentucky is riding an 11-game winning streak, and the win over Florida extended their record to 16-2.

Next up the Cats will face Tennessee on Oct. 22 at 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum.