For Elli McKissock, the decision to sign with the Orlando Valkyries wasn’t easy. Multiple offers tugged her in different directions, but ultimately, Orlando gave her an offer she could not resist.
The 2027 season marks McKissock's second with the team. She played a critical role in the team’s victory at the franchise’s first Major League Volleyball Championship in 2025.
This past season, McKissock played for the Atlanta Vibe, accumulating 152 digs and 2.34 digs per set across 65 sets played.
With her return to the Valkyries, McKissock has her heart set on one particular goal: winning another championship.
“Every team in this league has something amazing to offer,” McKissock said. “But being in Orlando, getting to play with them and win their first MLV championship, my first season with them is definitely a reason why I wanted to come back. I feel like that was super special for the league and the city of Orlando.”
Besides wanting to win another championship, McKissock said other major factors in her decision stemmed from being close to family and a former teammate.
Her sister, Matti Oliver, recently had another baby, and McKissock said she is excited to be close to her niece and nephew.
The inspiring sisterly bond between McKissock and Oliver runs deep.
The two grew up playing volleyball together and even won a state championship in high school. Like McKissock, Oliver also played collegiate volleyball. She was an Honorable Mention All-American setter at Georgia Tech and played her fifth year at UCLA.
“She’s always been pushing me,” McKissock said. “She sees the best in me and definitely pushes me to be better than I think that I can be.”
Oliver is not the only familiar face McKissock will be seeing. On the court, McKissock will reunite with her former UF teammate, setter Marlie Monserez.
The Gator alumni are both Windermere natives returning to their hometown for the 2027 season.
Monserez, a 2026 All-Star, played with McKissock at Florida for two years before transferring to UCLA. Now back in business, the duo’s chemistry could prove to be a valuable asset for the Valkyries.
Two years post-grad, McKissock said she still carries lessons she learned at Florida, especially after playing in an atmosphere where her teammates were likely all starters.
“At Florida, learning to be a good teammate, no matter what my role is, definitely helped me in the professional aspect,” McKissock said. “Being able to adapt to any situation and give it my all no matter what my role is, whether that’s in practice or during a game.”
Her four years at Florida prepared her for playing at the professional level, she added, and she still goes back to train and play with the girls at UF.
Florida volleyball didn’t just leave a mark on the libero — she left an unforgettable mark on the program, too.
McKissock still holds several UF titles, including the program record for career digs (2,147) and career sets played (534).
Since playing at Florida, McKissock said the main reason she has grown is her love for the game.
“At Florida, it was a game that would always be there, but now, professionally, you never know when [it] could be your last time playing,” she said. “I think gratitude for the game and never taking any moment for granted has been a huge shift in my mind.”
After over a decade of playing volleyball, she said she still holds a strong passion and love for the sport.
“Pressure is a privilege, and I truly think that getting to play at the highest level,” McKissock said. “It’s just a privilege every single day to be able to compete at such a high level surrounded by so many amazing girls.”
Following her fifth year at Florida, she was unsure what her future held or if she would get to play volleyball again.
The uncertainty and long offseasons, McKissock said, made her realize how valuable the game is and how much she misses it when it's not there.
And McKissock hasn’t just grown on the court. She’s also created lifelong friendships that will be there even when the game is not.
Last year with the Atlanta Vibe, she had the opportunity to play volleyball again with two of her former teammates – Anna Dixon and Taylor Smith – who will both be bridesmaids in her wedding this November.
McKissock said she hopes to create additional friendships with her teammates on the Orlando Valkyries and dive into the season as a strong leader, ready to secure another championship win.
“I hope we can continue to grow this amazing sport and get a bunch of Florida fans down to watch the games,” she said.
Contact Nicole Scura at nscura@alligator.org. Follow her on X @NicoleScuraa.
Nicole Scura is a third-year journalism student in her second semester at The Alligator. She is currently a sports enterprise reporter and previously served as a hockey reporter. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, traveling and watching football (Go Bucs!).
