LAKELAND, Fla.—After a nearly two and a half hour match in a warm and packed gymnasium, the Fire volleyball team needed a little bit of rest.
After a week without a match, the Fire prepare for three home games this week before jumping into Sun Conference action next week.
Last Tuesday, the Fire rallied back from a 2-1 deficit at Florida College for a 3-2 win, claiming the last two sets with 25-20 and 15-13 wins to secure the match. Sophomore
Kelsey Morton had a career night, recording 17 kills, and finishing with a .324 attacking percentage. The Fire used their height advantage at the net, recording a total of 16 blocks, with Uche Kojo involved in half of them.
"I was very pleased with the way our team worked together and fought for every point against Florida College," said Gilbert. "We weren't counting on the other team to make an error, and that mindset definitely helped us fight through the game."
The Fire host Trinity College to kick off the week tonight, then will host Florida National on Thursday and Trinity Baptist on Friday.
Trinity is looking to bounce back from a five-set loss over the weekend to Toccoa Falls College.
Florida National has struggled in its first year of play, sitting at 2-14 on the season, having lost their last 33 sets. Junior Brianne Ballow is the team's leading hitter with 41 kills.
On Friday, the Fire host Trinity Baptist for "Barefoot for Barefeet Night," in which Gilbert will coach the game barefoot in support of Samaritan's Feet. Samaritan's Feet is an organization that shares a message of hope and love through washing the feet of impoverished children around the world and adorning them with new shoes.
"The outreach on Friday is such an important organization," said Gilbert. "We take for granted the fact that we have multiple pairs of shoes to match every different outfit and don't realize that there are people all over the world who have to live, work, and travel without shoes in extremely rough conditions. I hope that this outreach will allow people to see the blessings we have here and learn not to take anything for granted as well as find ways to give to those in need."
The Eagles enter their second season of competition, having dropped their first 12 sets of play.
"This week I am really hoping to see minimal errors in our play yet still execute a strategic offense," said Gilbert.
Live video of all three games will be available at portal.stretchinternet.com/southeastern.
