(VB) Ongoing Volleyball Thread

Have to stay healthy!

 

Watching women’s volleyball in the Olympics has gotten me really excited about the upcoming SEC volleyball season. Can’t wait for the season to get started. Hoping that Mary’s Gator girls get the SEC and National Volleyball Titles. Go Gators!

 

Fitzpatrick Receives Diploma this Weekend - Florida Gators

 

Alexis Stucky is wearing a knee brace, but she is practicing.

Gators Volleyball on X: "It’s that time of year #GoGators https://t.co/h6UgG74lsQ" / X (twitter.com)

Can't wait to see this team grow together into the great team it can be.

 

I am getting closer. I was walking on campus today and Jackie Hensel, Director of Volleyball Operations, was a ways from me. I waved and called her name, but she did not see or hear me.
That is my story and I am sticking to it.
She and another lady walked to the Lemerand and went inside.
I could have caught her if I had run, but then I would have fallen.
But, she might have come back and helped me up, and I could have asked my questions.
Alas, a missed opportunity.

 

You're a lousy detective.

 

Television Schedule Announced:

Eleven Volleyball Matches to be Televised During the 2024 Regular Season - Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida volleyball will make 11 televised appearances throughout 2024 regular-season, as ESPN and the SEC Network revealed their 2024 volleyball slates on Thursday.

The Gators will kick off its airtime on ESPN2 with a matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 8. ESPN2 also picked up Florida's non-conference matchups against Georgia Tech (Sept. 11), and Florida State (Sept. 17).

The Gators 2024 TV schedule highlights back-to-back ESPN matches against Kentucky (Sept. 29), the 2024 SEC Champions, and Texas (Oct. 6), the two-time defending NCAA Champions.

The Southeastern Conference Network has announced the airing of nearly three dozen regular season matches throughout the fall of 2024, featuring five Florida matchups. Volleyball fans can find these matches on SEC Network every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with conference play beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Florida Volleyball Television Appearances in 2024

Date Time (ET) Matchup Airing on
Friday, Sept. 8 4 p.m. Ohio State at Florida ESPN2
Wednesday, Sept. 11 7 p.m. Florida at Georgia Tech ESPN2
Tuesday, Sept. 17 7 p.m. Florida State at Florida ESPN2
Sunday, Sept. 22 3 p.m. Buffalo at Florida SEC Network
Sunday, Sept. 29 1 p.m. Kentucky at Florida ESPN
Sunday, Oct. 6 1 p.m. Texas at Florida ESPN
Friday, Oct. 18 9 p.m. Florida at Texas A&M SEC Network
Sunday, Oct. 20 1 p.m. Florida at LSU ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 25 7 p.m. Tennessee at Florida SEC Network
Wednesday, Oct. 30 8 p.m. Florida at Arkansas SEC Network
Wednesday, Nov. 20 8 p.m. Florida at Auburn SEC Network

An additional slate of matches that will be available on SECN+ via WatchESPN, will be announced at a later date. The complete list of SEC volleyball action to appear on The SEC Network or ESPNU can be found here.

The 2024 season will conclude with ESPN platforms showcasing the 2024 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament. The national semifinals are set to begin on Thursday, Dec. 19 via ESPN, with the first semifinal airing at 7 p.m. and the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 7 p.m. matchup.

For the second consecutive year the NCAA Volleyball Championships will be broadcast live on ABC from the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Ky. on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets for the 2024 Florida Volleyball campaign are now on sale via the Gator Ticket Office Online or by calling 352-375-4683 ext. 6800. Tickets will remain entirely mobile via the Florida Gators app for the 2024 season.

Click here to check out the full 2024 schedule including 15 home matches and featuring visits from Texas, FSU, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, and UCF.

 

How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm,
After they've seen Gainesville?

 

AVCA preseason Coaches Poll:

Gators No. 11 in AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll - Florida Gators

#11 and a team nobody will want to play. UF is underrated a bit. If CMW gets the chemistry right early, UF is capable of having a special season.

2024 AVCA Preseason Poll
Rank Institution (First Place Votes) Points
1 Texas (46) 1,503
2 Nebraska (15) 1,474
3 Wisconsin 1,391
4 Pittsburgh 1,338
5 Stanford 1,228
6 Louisville 1,221
7 Penn State 1,005
8 Purdue 986
9 Kentucky 963
10 Oregon 943
11 Florida 870
12 Creighton 811
13 Kansas 691
14 Georgia Tech 665
15 Tennessee 650
16 BYU 547
17 Arizona State 430
18 Minnesota 358
19 Arkansas 334
20 Florida State 309
21 USC 300
22 Dayton 269
23 Baylor 244
24 Marquette 233
25 Georgia 187

 

Injuries have hurt Wise's Warriors the last couple of years. If we can stay injury free, this team could be better than #11, IMO.

 

Maybe O&B glasses, but, if healthy, we'll be one of the best teams in the nation. Far better than #11. But that's just a pre-season ranking that means nothing.

 

Ball Girls-Pre to early teen young ladies who retrieve the VBs after each point, wipe the sweat off the balls, and bounce them to the server. To be clear, it is not the same ball. There are many balls and ladies involved.

Each year an event is held in the Lemerand Center where a player adopts each Ball Girl. Due to numbers, some players adopt two. They have events for the players and Ball Girls during the season. Our players are amazing. They just took the BGs under their wings and laughed, danced, and played VB with them.

I was privileged to attend this on Monday evening.

We watched some exciting practice. Many of the players look ready to go. I was impressed by the incoming freshmen and transfers.

After watching Spring Ball, I had to step back and realize who the true freshmen are. We got our first sightings of freshmen Bella Lee, Jaela Aguste, and MD Graduate Transfer Erin Engle.

The best news is that Alexis Stuckey played in a knee brace and moved quite well.
Another encouraging sight was Amaya Thomas. She is in the best shape of her career and played like it.

 

https://www.ncaa.com/news/volleybal...preseason-power-10-womens-volleyball-rankings

Michella Chester the NCAA.com reporter covering volleyball ranks our Gator Volleyball team at No.9. I agree with her “ifs” and even think we deserve a higher ranking. Like last year, I prefer that CMW’s team just show us on the court floor what this team is made of when not riddled with injuries. This team is loaded like the softball team. Now let’s go out prove it. Go Gators!

 

2024 Volleyball Roster

2024 Volleyball Roster - Florida Gators

 

Hope to see many of you at Fan Day tomorrow. It will be fun.
The Gator Attack Club got 101 reservations for the after-party.

Florida Volleyball Hosts Georgia Southern in Fan Day Exhibition - Florida Gators

 

It would have nice if the Athletic Dept allowed 2024 VB Fan Day to be streamed so that we who live out of state could gat a glimpse of CTM's 2024 team. I am stoked for this season to start.

 

Stuckey not playing for Florida today. GSU is playing the Gators very tough.

 

Fitzpatrick having a rough game. Hitting only .067.

 

They're not getting many attempts from anybody but Martin & Fitzpatrick. 9-7 UF in set 4 and of the 125 attempts, 76 have come from those 2.