To say Florida volleyball has had a strong start to the season is an understatement. After taking a nail-biter win in four sets over Florida State on Friday, the Gators climbed to the No. 8 spot in the AVCA/Teraflex rankings, their highest since 2023.
Just 12 months ago, during Ryan Theis’ first year as head coach, Florida fell out of the top 25 for the first time since 1991. The Gators had their worst season in three decades, and many doubted whether the program would ever be a top contender again. But Theis used that criticism as fuel.
Now, going into their next match, the Gators have won six consecutive games, defeating two top-20 opponents and winning 26 sets in the process.
Looking to extend that success, Florida (8-1) faces Jacksonville (6-6) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Having won all five meetings with the Dolphins, the Gators are on track to take another victory. Jacksonville sits at .500, and was swept by Florida International in its last time out.
The Gators won’t be the first tough opponent Jacksonville battles, though. The Dolphins were shut out 3-0 by No. 2 Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. Despite the loss, Jacksonville’s opposite hitter Jaylyn Tuiasosopo had an impressive performance, recording a career-high 10 kills.
Tuiasosopo holds the second-highest kills for the Dolphins, making her a force the Gators must watch out for. The San Antonio, Texas, native added a season-high of 13 kills against Central Michigan on Friday.
But it's outside hitter Abbie Tuyo who commands the team offensively. She leads Jacksonville in kills, tallying 20 in a four-set match against Alabama A&M. Earning an Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week honor, Tuyo has put up double-digit kills in five-straight matches and in eight of her 12 appearances this season.
To hold the Dolphins down, Florida can count on opposite hitter Logan King.
The junior tallied a career-high seven blocks along with seven digs against Florida State, holding the Seminoles to their lowest hitting percentage of the season (.199) and solidifying a 3-1 win.
The performance earned King the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honor, becoming the first Gator to win it since Elli McKissock on Nov. 4, 2024. If King carries this momentum into the match against Jacksonville, her presence at the net could be key in limiting the Dolphins’ attacks.
Jacksonville will also have to keep its defense peeled for Kamryn Chaney. With 113 kills on the season, the opposite hitter leads the Gators offense. Chaney shined most in Florida’s match against then-No. 5 Wisconsin, tallying 22 kills in the five-set match despite the Gators loss.
This will be Florida’s last match of the nonconference portion of its schedule. The Gators prepare to open SEC play at Oklahoma on Sept. 27.
Contact Sofia Alamo at salamo@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @alamosofiaa.
Sofia Alamo is a sophomore sports journalism student in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She is the volleyball beat reporter. She enjoys spending time with family and watching sports with friends.
