Like any young team searching for confidence, credibility and an identity, Florida is looking to test itself.
That’s partly why the Gators scheduled meetings with four top-20 ranked schools in the first three weeks of the season – not because they envisioned four flawless victories and a chance to secure a spot at the top of the national rankings, but because they suspected they would lose.
And with most inexperienced teams, and especially for Florida, losing and learning are synonymous.
While No. 10 UF (3-2) plans on ending its two-game skid when it faces No. 13 San Diego (5-1) today, it knows wins don’t really count until December.
"When we scheduled last week’s matches on Thursday and Saturday, we knew it was going to be quite the challenge for our team," Coach Mary Wise said.
"What we’ve talked to the players about is looking at the long term."
It’s clear that Florida has a plan, formulated weeks before the season began and instilled into its players during the preseason.
First, Florida revamped both its offense and defense, primarily to accommodate for its offseason additions, but also to compensate for its losses.
All-American blocker Chloe Mann and first team All-Southeastern Conference setter Taylor Brauneis are gone, replaced by freshman Rhamat Alhassan and second-year transfer Mackenzie Dagostino.
"Our offense is completely different," senior Holly Pole said. "Starting with Mackenzie setting, and then obviously the freshmen coming in with Carli (Snyder) and Rhamat in there."
Snyder has worked her way into Florida’s rotation after impressing in her starting debut against Florida State last Thursday, and will prove to be a pivotal piece in the Gators’ reconstructed offense.
"Carli had a swing in set two (against Texas) that few players that have come through our program could have made," Wise said. "The ball (came) from behind her, and to be able to hit off the blocker’s hands, it was pretty elite stuff."
The defense underwent some fine tuning as well, placing more of an emphasis on digging.
"We changed some of the things we do defensively, me swing blocking and being more physical at the net… and we dig a lot more balls," Alex Holston said earlier in the season.
Part 1 was a change in the Gators’ play style.
Part 2 was the schedule, planned to test Florida’s freshmen, refine the team’s execution and cultivate court chemistry.
It began when the Gators faced then No. 8 Florida State last Thursday and will continue this week in California when they play two top-15 ranked opponents.
"The whole idea of the pre-conference scheduling was to help us for the SEC in trying to play the best teams possible, and now we’ll do that on the road," Wise said. "It’s not getting any easier, but we look at this weekend as another opportunity for our team to get better."
All of Wise’s players, even the freshmen — and sometimes especially the freshmen — have bought in.
"It’s only going to challenge us and show us what we are able to accomplish," Dagostino said.
"We always want tough teams," Holston said.
"Give us more," Snyder said.
More will assuredly come, beginning with San Diego today and No. 6 Southern California on Friday.
In the mean time, Florida will continue testing and tuning its game against elite competition, learning all the while and lying in wait for its real test — the NCAA tournament.
Follow Ian Cohen on Twitter @ibcohen5
Setter Mackenzie Dagostino (center) talks to outside hitter Ziva Recek (left) and middle blocker Simone Antwi (right) before a play during Florida's 3-0 win against Idaho.
