Starting the season off 4-1 and inching seven spots closer to No. 1, head coach Ryan Theis may have a title-contending team on his hands.
Florida volleyball, now ranked No. 10 in the nation, faced the most grueling stretch of its schedule this past week, tallying only one loss against No. 6 Wisconsin across three ranked matchups.
With three sweeps already under its belt, Florida has asserted itself not only as a competitive threat, but as a dominant force capable of shutting out teams.
Junior outside hitter and Kentucky transfer Selena Leban has stepped up to the plate and been a driving force behind Florida’s early success.
Two games into the regular season, Leban tied her career-high for kills in a game (20) against now-No. 13 Minnesota. She led the Gators in kills in the same match while also racking up four service aces — another team high.
Despite Leban being a newcomer to the Florida roster, she has fit right in and mixed with the team’s chemistry. She’s flawlessly connected with setter Taylor Parks, and they have developed a familiarity on the court early on.
In Florida’s home opener against Stony Brook, she led the Gators again with nine kills. Behind her, Florida nearly doubled up on the Wolves in the same category (40-22).
Florida, now winners of seven consecutive openers at the O’Dome, found its rhythm against the Seawolves. The Gators finished with a .303 hitting clip and boasted a well-distributed offense that fired from all across the net.
Against then-No. 11 Minnesota – Florida’s next opponent – a 3-1 victory not only boosted morale, but elevated the Gators as a top contender. They shined as underdogs behind an impressive serving performance
The team recorded an impressive 11 aces, and back-to-back aces by Leban helped the team secure the first set 27-25.
Against Minnesota, other names stood out.
Junior setter Taylor Parks became the 18th Gator to record 1,000 career assists, notching 46 against Minnesota.
Senior outside hitter Kamryn Chaney also remained noteworthy. She currently leads the team in kills (60) and points (67). Her efforts against the Golden Gophers helped the Gators seal the victory in the final points of the fourth set.
Chaney went on a seven-point run, with six kills and a block. When it mattered most, she pulled through for Florida.
Last season, the Gators relied on senior outside hitter Jordyn Byrd as a top competitor and forcefield. In the 2025 season, she held the team-high for kills (425). This year, her name has been a quiet one; she currently sits at 15 kills.
Her unexpected silence has left the team depending on other leaders — like Leban and Chaney — to step up as a commanding presence.
Facing the No. 5 Badgers, though, the Gators encountered their first defeat of the 2026 season.
In the fifth set, Florida fell just short 15-13. And again, service performances emerged as a significant component. With four costly service errors in the final set, the back-and-forth contest came to an end.
Although defeated, the Gators still had some stellar performances.
Chaney led the team in kills (22), junior middle blocker Alec Rothe had a career-high 11 blocks and junior setter Taylor Parks had 46 assists. Moreover, on defense, sophomore libero Lily Hayes finished with a team-high 18 digs.
The Gators swept both No. 20 Baylor and North Texas in their succeeding matches.
Against the Bears, Chaney was again able to take control and flaunt her dominating presence. She finished the match leading the team in kills (12) and in hitting efficiency (.786). Parks remained consistent yet again with 32 assists.
However, the Gators committed a plethora of unforced errors, allowing Baylor to slow the pace and fight back. Florida recorded 14 service errors, and junior opposite hitter Logan King tallied 18 attack errors alone.
Florida will look to cut down on unforced errors in its coming matches to take off as a top-level team.
Finally, the Mean Green attempted to slow Florida’s momentum on its fourth-straight road game, but could not execute.
The Gators dominated North Texas, with 44 total kills being their greatest asset.
In the first set, a kill by Rothe set Florida up to go on an eight-point run and gain control. Similarly, in the third set, a kill by King allowed Florida to secure the next 13 points and surge ahead, extending its advantage.
With these matches and strong efforts behind them, the Gators have an opportunity to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses to propel them in future contests.
Now that the most daunting part of their schedule is behind them, the Gators will look to build off of their 4-1 start as the season rolls on.
Contact Nicole Scura at nscura@alligator.org. Follow her on X @NicoleScuraa.
Nicole Scura is a junior journalism student in her third semester at The Alligator. She is currently a volleyball beat reporter and previously served as hockey beat and enterprise reporters. In her free time she enjoys figure skating, traveling and watching football (Go Bucs!).
