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.
No. 17 Florida (1-0) swept Stony Brook (1-3) in its home opener Sunday afternoon, rebounding from Thursday’s two-set loss against the No. 1 team in the country.
The No. 17 Florida Gators fell to the No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers in a two-set match Thursday night in Arlington, Texas. The win advanced the Cornhuskers to the Spikes Under the Lights championship, where they will face the winner of Penn State vs. Southern Methodist University.
With a tough schedule ahead, the Gators must capitalize on their returning stars, challenge their ranked opponents and fill the gaps left by transfers to find success on the court again. The Gators’ 2025-26 season proved adjustment takes time. After 34 years under head coach Mary Wise, Florida experienced a shake-up when she announced her last full season would be 2024.
Tucked in between Saturdays in The Swamp and camping in front of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for basketball games are national championship contenders, Olympians, rising stars and some of the most exciting sporting events on campus. Whether you’re looking for a fun new activity, an indoor escape from the Florida heat or your next favorite team, here’s what you need to know before every Gator season begins.
Being one of three programs with multiple athletes selected to the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference team, Florida volleyball is positioned for success with the talents of Jordyn Byrd and Alec Rothe. The SEC Coaches Poll announced the Gators are projected to finish No. 4 in the conference.
With Florida volleyball preparing for the 2026 season, the team has the chance to prove the program can still thrive without longtime head coach Mary Wise, who departed the program after the 2024 season. In 2025, the Gators saw their worst season in over three decades, going 16-12 overall and 9-6 in the SEC, leaving massive room for growth under head coach Ryan Theis. That said, Florida’s roster looks different this year, leaving fans wondering how this season will pan out.
Following a standout first season with the Gators, rising sophomore libero Lily Hayes has made another memorable mark on the court. Representing Team USA in the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup, Hayes helped the team bring home gold.
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.
Student-athletes spend years striving to excel in their sport, dedicating hours to practices, conditioning and competition. But for many, one question looms over their head: What comes after sports?
When Nadi’ya was as young as 10 years old, she began seeking out extra training on her own, running with her brothers and finding ways to improve her athleticism.
Head coach Ryan Theis’ first season with the Florida Gators officially came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
An injury to one of the Owls' top hitters shifted momentum early on in the match.
Florida enters the NCAA volleyball tournament in round one to face Rice University. While the two haven't met in three decades, they saw similar results against the opponents they had in common this season.
Florida’s run in the SEC Volleyball Tournament came to an end Sunday.
Solutions by The State News
