The sidelines.
That’s where Jordyn Byrd found herself for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns. A powerhouse pin hitter, caged by injury and coaching decisions.
“Last year, there were some bumps in the road for me mentally,” Byrd said. “I took last year as a learning experience for me. Learning how strong I can be, learning hard times don't last forever and just when those mental blocks come, how to overcome them.”
An opportunity to return to her home state and play at Florida held the key for the redshirt sophomore. Healthy and freed from the sidelines, Byrd assumed a dominant role for the Gators, establishing herself as the team’s go-to pin hitter on the outside.
Now in a better headspace and a fitting environment, Byrd has thrived. Her own mental progress and growth have been bolstered by her support system at Florida and her family being not too far away, in Sarasota. The program has emphasized it has strong faith in the outside hitter.
“She just physically can do things that most can’t,” Florida head coach Ryan Theis told ESPN. “It’s a load to stop, and when she is feeling it, anything you throw up there, she’s going to have a shot to kill.”
In only her second-ever collegiate match, she logged 23 kills against No. 3 Pittsburgh and secured AVCA Match MVP.
Byrd immediately turned heads with her abilities and confidence. She came close to her career-high yet again with 21 kills in Florida’s match against Baylor Sept. 14.
“I kind of just went out there with a clear mind, positive thoughts and just telling myself to go out there and be aggressive,” Byrd said. “I wasn't really worried about anything but playing.”
Enjoying her time on the court has been a priority for Byrd since she started playing in seventh grade. Her mom has coached volleyball for over 20 years and influenced Byrd’s trajectory, bringing her to the gym and watching volleyball with her for as long as Byrd can remember. However, Byrd initially refused to play, until she decided to give it a try in middle school.
Byrd started the way many volleyball players do, struggling to use her height and control her swing. She progressed over the years and, following a transition to the outside position her junior year of high school, she was a popular recruit.
The two-time Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the year in 2021-22 was ranked No. 16 in the nation for the Class of 2023 by PrepDig and tallied 1,640 kills in her career at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School.
“Jordyn is better than any hitter I’ve seen in the state,” high school coach Kim Whitney said. “She’s able to put a ball away wherever she is on the court.”
Her accomplishments did not stop off the court. She became the first person to graduate early from her high school.
After graduation, she brought her talents to Texas, choosing the Longhorns over Florida and Wisconsin, her other two schools of interest, she said. Her first collegiate obstacle came early on, when a stress fracture sidelined her for almost the entire 2023 season while her team went on to win the national championship.
While Byrd still regards that season as a great experience, she was disappointed she couldn’t contribute to the team’s success. She aimed to change that in 2024 with the injury behind her, only to find herself on the sidelines again, this time due to coaching decisions.
That, combined with her year of injury, brought mental struggles for Byrd. Far away from her family and questioning her decisions and what her future held, she had no choice but to push through.
“I look at life a different way now,” she said. “Being a young woman that plays collegiate sports is already hard enough, and then you go through all of these trials and tribulations during these times. I think, coming out of everything, I became a stronger person.”
Byrd decided to enter the transfer portal in December 2024. Her parents and close friends supported her decision, encouraging her despite how difficult the process was for her mentally. Byrd said even small distractions, like her friends and teammates taking her out, helped.
“The little things that my village did for me to help me get out of that headspace is something that I will forever cherish,” she said.
Byrd spoke with several teams but said she knew in the back of her mind she would end up at Florida, where she would be close to home and part of a program known for supporting its athletes. Her connection to former Florida head coach Mary Wise also contributed to her interest. She’s known Wise since she was 12 and always felt she had a lot of faith in her.
In late December 2024, shortly after entering the portal, she committed to UF. Her support system has only expanded since arriving at Florida, and the environment is contributing to her confidence and positive mindset.
Knowing teammates like redshirt junior setter Alexis Stucky, redshirt freshman outside hitter Kira Hurston and freshman libero and defensive specialist Lily Hayes have confidence in her abilities on the court gives Byrd the feeling she can “swing at any ball,” she said.
“Knowing that they have my back and I have theirs is something that is really special to me,” Byrd said.
Her teammates are just as happy to have her on their side of the net.
“It gives me a ton of confidence when Jordyn looks me in the eyes and says ‘set me,’” Stucky said. “We have put a lot of work into our connection this past spring. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but it's been really gratifying seeing it improve.”
Byrd has already accomplished a lot at Florida. But unsatisfied with being on the sidelines for the national title at Texas, she has her eyes on being on the court to help her team win another.
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).
