Southeastern Conference volleyball can be unpredictable, even for a team coming off a major win. Heading into Florida’s match against unranked Vanderbilt, the Gators’ head coach Ryan Theis knew that.
“We dropped matches to teams last year that ended below us,” he said after Florida’s win over then-No. 3 Kentucky on Oct. 4. “Let’s not go crazy over a 3-0 [conference] start.”
Despite going in as the favorite, the then-No.5 Gators fell to Vanderbilt in four sets Sunday. Florida hit just .142 throughout the match with 46 kills and 27 attack errors, struggling to get clean looks against Vanderbilt's defense. The defeat was the first for Florida in conference play and a strike to its confidence.
Now, Florida has the chance to gain its momentum back on Friday.
The No. 7 Gators (13-2, 4-1 SEC) hit the road for a matchup with the No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies (10-7, 3-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in Reed Arena.
Texas A&M enters the matchup as the defending national champion after sweeping Kentucky at the 2025 NCAA volleyball championship to win its first title in program history. The Aggies finished last season with a 29-4 record, marking one of their most successful campaigns for the team.
Despite Florida leading the all-time series record 23-3, the Aggies claimed the last matchup between the two. Last year, Texas A&M defeated the Gators on Nov. 12, 2025, in three sets, becoming one of three teams in the regular season to sweep Florida.
The Aggies opened the first set on a 6-1 dominant run, with all their points coming from kills. After setting the tone early on, they took it to a 25-17 victory in the first set. The Aggies maintained control of the match, keeping their errors to only two in the first.
Behind key players like Stowers, Texas A&M closed out a tight third set 25-23 after Florida’s attempt to come back.
Putting up double the unforced errors that the Aggies did —18 attack errors compared to Texas A&M’s nine attack errors — Florida struggled to have a clean game throughout.
On the road, though, it’s been a different story. The Gators have not lost in College Station since 2015. This season, the Gators continue to have a deep roster they can rely on for another victory.
Senior outside hitter Kamryn Chaney has emerged as one of Florida’s top contributors, with 190 kills this season. Middle blocker Alec Rothe sits at second place with 127 kills.
Chaney’s aggressive, precise swings have made her a consistent offensive threat. She recorded a season-high .786 hitting percentage against then-No. 20 Baylor.
Outside hitter Kyndal Stowers leads Texas A&M with 192 kills this season. She added a season-high 29 kills in the Aggies’ 3-2 loss to Indiana on Sept. 2.
Stowers helped fuel Texas A&M's greatest victory this season, as it defeated then-No. 4 Stanford 3-1 on Sept. 9. Behind Stowers’ match-high 15 kills, the Aggies dominated the first and second sets. Despite trailing in the third, Texas A&M didn't let that set them back, taking the fourth set after scoring the final four points.
Performing at a top level against a ranked opponent like Stanford proved the Aggies continue to be dominant after their championship season.
For Florida to be able to compete against a strong Texas A&M team, it must also look to its defense to limit the Aggies’ offensive production. Freshman libero Lily Hayes has recorded 213 digs this season. Her defensive play will be important in slowing Stowers down.
Before their loss to Vanderbilt, the Gators had won 11 consecutive matches, building the longest win streak in the SEC. Now, following the loss against the Commodores, the Gators must get back on track and build that streak back up.
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.
