Florida volleyball has already defeated one No. 11-ranked team in the nation this season, dominating Minnesota in a 3-1 contest on Sept. 1. Just over one month later, the Gators have a chance to do it again.
The No. 7 Florida Gators (10-1, 1-0 SEC) will host the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (9-2, 0-1 SEC) on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Florida has won two out of its last three matches against the Vols, but the lone loss stung. The 4-seed Vols eliminated 5-seed Florida 3-1 in the 2025 SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Throughout the match, the Gators struggled to keep errors low, hitting just 17.9%.
This time around, Tennessee’s opposite hitter Kennedi Rogers will be one of Florida’s biggest obstacles. The sophomore has solidified herself as one of the team’s offensive leaders, tying her career high with 21 kills in four sets.
Florida’s Alec Rothe will have to keep Rogers at bay at the net. But that won’t be a hard task for the middle blocker, who has established herself as one of Florida’s biggest weapons.
Rothe ranks ninth in the nation with a .463 hitting percentage, while also sitting 36th in blocks per set at 1.38. Against Troy, the junior hit near-perfectly, with 10 kills on 11 attempts. Rothe powers Florida through each victory with quick and aggressive attacks.
The middle blocker has also proved she is reliable when the Gators need her most. In Florida’s last matchup against Oklahoma, Rothe closed out every set – the first with a block and the second and third with a kill. When the Gators need a big play, Rothe has shown she can deliver.
In the battle of the setters, Florida falls slightly behind the Vols statistically. The Gators’ Taylor Parks averages 10.53 assists per set and 1.43 digs per set. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s Carolina Kerr averages 10.75 assists and 2.61 digs, and she earned Preseason All-SEC honors.
Both setters have shown they can handle pressure. Kerr recorded a season-high 42 assists, recorded in four sets against Penn State, while Parks put up a season-high 46 assists in a five-set match against Wisconsin. With both teams relying on their setters, it could come down to whoever can create the most consistent opportunities for the hitters.
The Gators haven't crumbled against top teams in the nation, with this being their fourth match against a ranked opponent in the season. In its match against then-No. 20 Baylor, Florida absolutely dominated and swept the Bears 3-0.
Opening SEC play at home will be a high-pressure environment for Florida – especially playing a top-15 team in the nation. The Gators will look to turn that pressure into motivation to claim their ninth consecutive victory and their third win against a ranked opponent this season.
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.
