As a team hoping to prove that they belong in the elite of the Southeastern Conference, the Georgia volleyball team was disappointed.

The Bulldogs visited the 11th-ranked Florida Gators Friday night in Gainesville and fell in straight sets 25-18, 25-16, and 25-16. Georgia (7-5, 0-1 SEC) had high hopes of going in to Florida (7-1, 0-1 SEC) and flexing its muscle against the top team of the SEC. But the Bulldogs could barely compete against the powerful Gators.

Georgia could get nothing going at the net tonight. The Bulldogs highes attack percentage came from sophomore Valentina Gonzalez, who compiled only a .182 mark. The usually consistent senior, Maria Taylor, had 9 kills, but also had a team high five errors.

The first set didn’t start off so bad for Georgia, as they got out to an early 6-3 lead. Florida would win six of nine points to tie the match at 9-9. But Georgia would once again take the lead at 10-9 before Florida won seven points in a row to take a 16-9 lead, and eventually win the set.

In the second set the two teams would swap the lead several times before the Gators took complete control at 8-7, and eventually led by a score of 22-12. Georgia would make a little push and close the gap to 24-16, but then Florida shut the door on the set.

The third set would go back-and-forth until the set was tied at 13. Florida would then take three straight points and all Georgia could do was get within two points the rest of the way. Florida would once again go on a streak, this time only six points, and take a commanding lead before easily closing out the match.

Georgia will now travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face the Gamecocks, who after losing the first match of the year have won nine matches in a row, including Louisiana State in straight sets tonight. The match is set for Sunday, with first serve set for 1:30 p.m.