Heading into the 2024 season, Florida volleyball finds itself in a familiar position.
The Gators are ranked No. 11 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Division I Top-25 poll, marking the 33rd consecutive year UF is in the preseason top 15.
For Florida head coach Mary Wise and her prestigious program, the expectation is always the same: to compete among the nation’s top teams.
Entering her 34th season at the helm for the Gators, Wise’s squad has made the NCAA Tournament every season since her arrival in Gainesville.
But 2023 saw Florida encounter numerous obstacles that derailed a promising finish. The Gators ended the season 19-10, marking the first season under Wise the Gators hit double digits in the loss column.
However, several core players from last year’s team have returned, and hopes are high that UF can bounce back and have a dominant season this year.
Redshirt sophomore Alexis Stucky headlines a loaded UF roster. Stucky starred for the Gators in both her freshman campaign and early last season. However, she suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Gators’ loss to then-No. 1 Wisconsin on Sept. 17.
Now preparing to return to action, Stucky is expected to be among the top players in the nation. The Florida setter recently earned a 2024 Preseason All-SEC Team nod.
Alongside Stucky, sophomore Kennedy Martin established herself as a rising star for the Gators following an excellent freshman year. She set the record for kills by a freshman in Florida history with 492, and posted a career-high 28 kills against then-No. 11 Tennessee on Nov. 3rd.
The Gators also brought in plenty of new talent in the transfer portal, headlined by redshirt senior Isabel Martin. In her three seasons at UNLV, Martin was a two-time AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. She was also named the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2022 and the Co-Player of the Year in 2023.
Florida returns some key experience with fifth-year Elli McKissock, who donned the libero jersey in all 29 matches for the Gators last season. The former AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention ranks second in Florida history with 1,666 digs and led UF in digs in all but one match last season.
Behind their big names, the Gators also have plenty of potential regarding their depth. Fifth-year AC Fitzpatrick, who stepped up in Stucky’s absence to finish second on the team in kills last season, is set to return for the 2024 campaign.
The Gators also brought in some highly-touted recruits this offseason. Freshmen setter Taylor Parks and middle blocker Alec Rothe were both AVCA First Team All-Americans this past high school season, with the latter being named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023. Both likely will be crucial cogs to the Gators' success in the present and future seasons.
With a roster that stacks up against the nation's best, the Gators will be tested with a difficult schedule featuring seven ranked opponents and four fellow top-15 squads.
The highlight is a matchup against two-time defending NCAA Champion and preseason No. 1 Texas, who will visit the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Oct. 6.
Florida’s first ranked matchup of the season will come in a road contest against No. 14 Georgia Tech, the team who knocked UF out of the NCAA Tournament last season. That match is set to take place Sep. 11.
In September, the Gators host both No. 20 Florida State and No. 9 Kentucky, while on Oct. 25, No. 15 Tennessee will visit the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Florida’s remaining two ranked matchups are road bouts against No. 19 Arkansas Oct. 30, and its regular season finale against No. 25 Georgia Nov. 30.
UF begins its season with an exhibition match against Georgia Southern Aug. 24 followed by a trip out West to take on Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Michigan State from Aug. 30-Sept. 1 in both Fort Collins and Greeley, Colorado.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
