First-year Gators volleyball head coach, Ryan Theis, had several holes to fill and pieces to consider when constructing Florida’s roster. But having a capable setter was not one of his concerns.
The accolades speak for themselves for Florida’s setters, sophomore and SEC-All Freshman Taylor Parks and redshirt junior All-American Alexis Stucky.
“To have two setters at that elite of a level is just such a luxury for the Gators,” ESPN analyst and former UF setter Missy Whittemore told The Alligator.
Parks competed for the U.S. Women’s U21 Team and won gold last summer, while Stucky did the same in 2022 and 2023. The duo is seemingly unmatched compared to other collegiate teams, carrying career highs of 56 assists each.
But for Stucky, her collegiate road has not been smooth sailing. After playing in every match and reaching 1,000 assists during her freshman campaign, she suffered a season-ending torn ACL/MCL in 2023 that sidelined her for the remainder of her second season.
In 2024, Parks led the team while Stucky recovered.
Across Parks’ freshman season, she started in 18 matches, averaging 8.08 assists, 1.43 digs, 0.88 points, 0.37 aces, 0.36 kills and 0.28 blocks per set. Parks ranked first on the team for assists and aces while finishing fourth in the SEC for aces per set and total aces and 11th in the SEC for assists.
“She's so mature for her age to have been able to come in and do what she did a season ago,” Whittemore said. “With no experience yet, and to step in and set such a high level team last year, I thought was incredibly impressive.”
While Parks took the reins, Stucky focused on her health and recovery.
Stucky made her return to the floor on Sept. 20, 2024. She averaged 10.04 sets, 2.16 digs, 1.41 points, 0.78 blocks, 0.60 kills and 0.36 aces per set for the 2024 season. Her comeback was impressive, but it was clear she was not yet playing at full capacity.
“I think you get cleared, you become comfortable, and then that last step is to feel really confident playing after an injury,” Whittemore said. “I see that confidence returning in her, and I just am very happy for her.”
Stucky has been back in full swing since her 2025 debut.
In Florida’s first match against Stanford in the AVCA First Serve Showcase, she logged 39 assists. The following match, she tallied 44 assists in a five-set thriller over then-No. 3 Pittsburg.
“I can't imagine the hard work that she put in to get back to that place with the seriousness of her injury,” Whittemore said. “I think she looks fantastic.”
Whittemore commended Stucky’s ability to run a complete offense. According to her, Stucky is second to none in terms of getting all the pieces of the offense involved and understanding when to use which attacker.
Stucky has proven dangerous to opposing teams on both the offensive and defensive end, picking her spots well, facilitating a powerhouse offense and getting up to block. While Stucky has seen most of the starts this season, Parks has also shown she is the same force that earned her SEC recognition last year. This season, against Ohio State, she led Florida to a .305 hitting clip with 35 assists and 10 digs.
With the setters’ talent and success, Florida’s hitters are working to form connections and build chemistry with both Stucky and Parks.
“It’s been really good,” sophomore middle Alec Rothe said of the pair’s chemistry. “We have been putting in a lot of work in the offseason to get that momentum … We spend a lot of time off the court — as much as we do on the court — and it helps with all the chemistry things.”
To maximize each setter’s talents, Theis is doing all he can in this situation, taking it one match or practice at a time, looking at the numbers and gauging efficiency and rhythm of the team, according to Whittemore.
It’s a long season, and there’s always the possibility for change.
“I think that’s a fun wait and see,” Theis said. “They’re both really talented, and so it might be week to week, it might be match to match.”
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball in her free time and going on beach trips with friends. She has been a Boston sports fan all her life (Brad Marchand we miss you).
