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Friday, March 29, 2024
<p>UF coach Mary Wise calls out instructions during Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 11, 2015, in the O'Connell Center. On Friday, Wise earned her 800th win as the coach of the Gators.</p>

UF coach Mary Wise calls out instructions during Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 11, 2015, in the O'Connell Center. On Friday, Wise earned her 800th win as the coach of the Gators.

Roster turnover can stunt a program’s growth.

Yet, after losing more than a third of its roster to graduation or transfer, the Florida volleyball team might have improved.

“I’m really excited just to be back. It’s definitely something we’ve been looking forward to, just having this huge team and knowing that our bench is this deep,” junior middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan said.

That depth, courtesy of a nine-player recruiting class, earned 2015 NCAA quarterfinalist Florida the 10th spot on the AVCA’s preseason rankings, despite fielding a squad that is equal parts experience and youth.

Focusing the team’s recruiting efforts on athleticism and length, coach Mary Wise and her staff set out to find agile defensive specialists, rangy outside hitters and imposing middle blockers.

“The game is won in women’s volleyball just like men’s volleyball — it’s won above the net,” she said. “How physical are your players, and how high above the net can they play? When you have tall players who can also jump, you’ve got an advantage when you can jump that high.”

One player in particular, though, has caught the eye of players and coaches alike.

“Have you met Rachael?” Wise said.

Towering at 6-foot-8, Rachael Kramer occupies a spot in the record books as the tallest woman to suit up for UF’s volleyball team. A 2015 Under Armour High School second-team All-American, Kramer’s singular brand of size and skill was noticed immediately.

“It definitely changes the dynamic in this gym,” Alhassan said. “Right now in practice, it’s so much more challenging just having that kind of size to play against, and it’s good because it just makes us better and it’s just helping everyone around us.”

However, new faces bring new challenges, and with such an influx, UF is placing a premium on developing team chemistry.

Florida held involuntary workouts regularly over the summer as well as an “off-the-grid” team-bonding trip to a Panhandle beach house.

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Right-side hitter Alex Holston, the lone senior following this offseason’s upheaval, understands the changing leadership dynamic that comes with such a green side.

“Our gym is so competitive. It’s awesome. All the newcomers bring a different side of things as far as volleyball (goes), with new energy and fresh faces on the court,” she said.

“At least it’s me not doing it all by myself. I have Carli, Rhamat, Shainah (Joseph). They call us the team leaders, so it’s not just me trying to lead a big group of 18 girls this whole season.”

But for all their inexperience, for all the novelty, this group houses serious potential.

“For new transfers to the team, I would just say be yourself and come in knowing that we’re all on the same page,” redshirt sophomore Allie Monserez said.

“We’re all ready to work hard, and just all (ready to) fulfill one goal.”

 Contact Alejandro López at alopez@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @ajlb95

UF coach Mary Wise calls out instructions during Florida's 3-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 11, 2015, in the O'Connell Center. On Friday, Wise earned her 800th win as the coach of the Gators.

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