(VB) Ongoing Volleyball Thread

I love Ocalagirl's fire and effort. But if Hutson' hadn't been hurt, she wouldn't have played much this year, IMO. I know that just having her leadership and tenacity around will be a huge positive and I certainly wish her the best. But with the #1 recruiting class coming in and a healthy Hutson, it will be interesting to see who ends up making the primary rotation.

 

Wow … good

 

I don't disagree, but she will be a great team player.

 

Cannot sub for experience on a talented but young squad. Leads by example in many ways too

 

2024 = LOADED

 

2025 is the year I think. The last two loaded classes will be juniors and sophomores, plus Stuckey. Might need a piece or two out of the portal, but we will be loaded and experienced. This coming year is probably Nebraska’s.

 

As you recall, all of the rankings in 23 had UF ahead of UNL before Hutson and Stucky went out followed later with our best MB. UF will have more talent, experience, and depth in 24 than in 23. We're going to have 4 players for the left pin, Hutson, Harden, Fitzpatrick, and the Honorable Mention All-American from UNLV, Kennedy. MB has Essix back along with two highly ranked freshmen All-Americans one of which plays MB/OH. Player of the Year candidate Kennedy Martin will be on the floor a lot. Getting Stucky back will give UF the best QB in the nation plus UF gets a highly ranked/talented freshman backup. The defense will be loaded and infused with 2 new L/DS difference makers.

I do agree UNL will have an excellent team in 24. They are loaded, but those frosh will only be sophs next season. The abuse UNL took at the hands of Texas was both talent and experience breakdowns. Wisky looks to be in a reloading year so UNL will look great, but I wouldn't be surprised if UNL gets knocked out before the final.

 

Good news today. Ellie McKissock is back for a fifth year.

 

24 = LOADED - Did not know McKissock could come back as volleyball completed a full split year season during covid.

 

If she has a season like her first, she can be the difference maker we need…imo

 

Neede to SMU.

 

Good for her as it gets her back to her home state. Nnedi, thank you for your 4 years as a Gator.

I guess this means Sophia Victoria could choose to comeback too? I don't know how volleyball ship numbers work, but I'm already surprised with Fitzpatrick and McKissock coming back.

The Gators are going to make significant noise in 2024, has to be the best team UF has ever had.

 

The Gator volleyball team should be very good in 2024, but they have a lot of winning to do to best some of our prior teams. Our 2003 NCAA runners-up finished 36-2, losing their first match of the season to Southern Cal and the national title game to Southern Cal, 36 wins in-between. The 2017 National Runner-up team went 30-2, with only a mid-season loss to #8 Kentucky and a loss to Nebraska in the national title game. Mary Wise has had several other great teams in her tenure and it's a little early to tout the 2024 team as our best ever, IMO. Potentially, maybe, but they have a lot of work to do to get there.
Congrats to Okammor, but I wish she would have stayed. She's a Texas girl, but I think she was somewhat underused this past season. I am thrilled about Ellie's decision as well as A.C.'s. I may take some flak for saying this, but I thank Victoria for 4 years and wish her the best in the future. She seems like a wonderful young lady, member of her country's national team, etc. But she only hit .192 this season, .210 for her career. To be an elite team your outside hitters have to be more consistent than that.

 

Yeah, I don’t see how Sofia would help the team moving forward. Jmho

 

Depth is always good. Look no further than this year.

 

Yes it is but we’d be carrying a bunch of OH’s