(VB) Ongoing Volleyball Thread

Some folks have lamented the fact that UF never just cruises through the SEC unbeaten every season like they used to. There's a good reason for that. Mary Wise elevated the program so far above the rest of the league, it was a cakewalk. The SEC finally got tired of the relentless ass-kicking and decided to upgrade their programs. One or two others started challenging the Gators. Now the league is competitive across the board.
And that's a good thing. It makes our team better and ready for the postseason.
Same thing happened in softball; all Gators at one time, then gradually Bama and a couple of others started to battle us.

 

Great start for the Gators!
A little over 2,500 in attendance yesterday. It would be awesome to see double that today against Iowa State. The team deserves it.

 

Excellent student section and band. They are into it.
Shame, shame, shame, you let your whole team down-chanted on the opponent's service error.

 

insert fgcu.

 

Playing back and doimg well.

 

Gators sweep Iowa State!
Impressive first two rounds.

 

Best defensive play I have seen out of a mary wise team. Really fun to watch.
But now the real tournament starts, Pitt is legit and win that and Wisconsin likely looms.

 

I wish our minor sports teans got more recognition and interaction on this board than they get. They work just has hard, win much more often, graduate more, and stay of trouble more than the major sports teams particularly football

 

What an atmosphere tonight. The crowd was raucous, and the band and student section were fantastic. We made some of the most incredible digs I have ever seen. Eli and Emily were amazing.

 

tv & time?

 

You are more likely to hear folks complain about resources and focus being diverted from football. While I do believe we fell behind badly in football facilities, it is more than clear that the failure in that sport was not caused by success in other sports (correlation versus causation).

For example, if more gator fans watched Stucky set, as a freshman, they would be stunned. What talent.

 

Setting and back-row defense set our team apart from most other teams.
As Seabud said, Stucky is stunning as a freshman setter. A friend of mine, when he found out we had signed Stucky, said, 'Why would you sign a setter from Wyoming?' After two matches, he ate those words gladly.
With Eli and Emily in the back row, we are elite. But, even when Merritt and Stucky are back there, they can dig very well. And, then, bring in Trinity and Emerson, and you have excellent diggers servers and passers.
Mary has recruited well over the last three years, and the recruits coming in are highly rated.
We lose Marina and Rhett. Marina is a significant loss. Rhett would have played a more prominent role, but she has a torn labrum.
The only puzzlement to me is why AC does not rotate in. She came in late Friday night and had three straight, brutal kills. When another attacker is having an off night, why not add her to the rotation?
A little human interest story. As I was leaving last night, I saw a couple that went to 1st Ocala UMC when I was there. Come to find out. They are business partners with AC's dad. They had seven rows full of people from Ocala to cheer AC on.

 

Shouldn't be surprised I guess with all the football stories,but had to go to the SEC site to get the volleyball match recaps.

 

2023 Incoming Class
Kennedy Martin | 6-6 | Pin Hitter | Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C. | High School: Nation Ford High School | Club: FC Elite

Madi Gravlee | 6-4 | OH | Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla. | High School: Vero Beach | Club: High Tide/Gainesville Juniors-First Mary Wise Volleyball Legacy. For the life of me I cannot find her name.

Kira Hutson | 6-3 | OH | Hometown: Aurora, Ill. | High School: Metea Valley High School | Club: Team One Volleyball

 

I am searching for her mother.