GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the second-consecutive season, the University of Florida volleyball team earned the No. 2 ranking in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Florida's setter Alexis Stucky and opposite hitter Kennedy Martin were named to the Preseason All-Sec Team, as the league announced Wednesday.
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) July 10, 2024This duo 🔥
Alexis Stucky and Kennedy Martin have been named to the 2024 Preseason All-SEC Team!
🗞️: https://t.co/Pa3HzR7iJO#GoGators pic.twitter.com/g4J3GeLAUv
Florida earned one first-place vote and 174 points to claim second place in the poll, behind the two-time defending National Champion, Texas.
Stucky collected her second career Preseason All-SEC honor. The redshirt sophom*ore suffered a season ending ACL and MCL tear during last year's match against then-No. 1 Wisconsin on Sept. 17. Prior to her injury, she posted three double-doubles and recorded 40 or more assist in four of the nine matches she saw action. Following her historic freshman campaign, she was named to the 2023 Preseason All-SEC Team. The All-American was named the 2022 AVCA Southeast Freshman of the Year, becoming just the fifth Gator to receive AVCA Region Freshman of the Year honors. The Laramie, Wy. native was also named the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year, while earning a spot on the 2022 All-SEC Team.
Martin, the All-American sophom*ore, garnered her first Preseason All-SEC accolade. Following her breakout rookie season, the Fort Mill, S.C. native was selected to the 2023 AVCA All-Southeast Region, 2023 All-SEC Team and 2023 All-Freshman Team. She became the first Florida freshman to earn an SEC honor each of their first three weeks in the program as well as earned AVCA National Division I Player of the Week honors on Aug. 29, 2023. Martin averaged 4.35 kills, 1.86 digs, 0.99 blocks and 5.14 points per game in her first season as a Gator. Most recently, Kennedy was a member of 2024 U-21 USA Collegiate National Team who won Gold at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championships on June 30.
On Florida's 2024 Roster
Florida returns 12 players from the 2023 season, with seven starting in at least four matches. Starting Libero Elli McKissock and outside hitter AC Fitzpatrick join the two All-Americans for their last year of eligibility. Seniors Gabrielle Essix and Trinity Adams as well as junior Emily Canaan will also return for Mary Wise's 34th season as Florida's head coach.
The Gators welcome two graduate transfers to their 2024 roster. Redshirt senior Isabel Martin accumulated a total of 514 kills, 244 digs, 38 aces, 54 total blocks and 580.5 points during her time at UNLV. The Mauerstetten, Bavaria, Germany native was named to the 2023 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, 2023 AVCA All-Region First Team Selection and the 2023 Mountain West Co-Player of the Year. Hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Erin Engel returns to her home state after spending her last three seasons at Maryland. The setter saw action in every match the past two seasons, while also accumulating 58 aces. Additionally, six freshmen join the squad: Alec Rothe, Taylor Parks, Ella Vogel, Jaela Auguste, Lauren Harden and Bella Lee.
Florida heads west to kick off their 2024 campaign in Colorado from Aug. 30 – Sept. 1. UF's first matchup will be Colorado State on Friday in Fort Collins, CO before traveling to Greeley, CO on Saturday to face Northern Colorado. Florida will close out its first weekend of play against Michigan State on Sunday.
2024 SEC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place | School | Points |
1. | Texas (14) | 196 |
2. | Florida (1) | 174 |
3. | Kentucky | 173 |
4. | Georgia | 148 |
5. | Tennessee | 144 |
6. | Missouri | 127 |
7. | Texas A&M | 117 |
8. | Arkansas | 109 |
9. | LSU | 82 |
10. | Auburn | 77 |
11. | Oklahoma | 73 |
12. | Ole Miss | 49 |
South Carolina | 49 | |
14. | Mississippi State | 42 |
15. | Alabama | 15 |
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
2024 Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
Name, School | Pos. | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown |
Hannah Hogue, Arkansas | S | 5-8 | Sr. | Fort Smith, Ark. |
Madison Scheer, Auburn | OH | 6-1 | Jr. | Eureka, Mo. |
Sophie Fischer, Georgia | MB | 6-5 | 5th | Fort Mill, S.C. |
Kennedy Martin, Florida | OH/RS | 6-6 | So. | Fort Mill, S.C. |
Alexis Stucky, Florida | S | 6-2 | R-So. | Laramie, Wy. |
Eleanor Beavin, Kentucky | L | 5-5 | Sr. | Louisville, Ky. |
Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky | OH | 6-2 | So. | Topeka, Kan. |
Emma Grome, Kentucky | S | 5-9 | Sr. | Loveland, Ohio |
Jurnee Robinson, LSU | OH | 6-1 | So. | Simpsonville, S.C. |
Sasha Ratliff, Ole Miss | MB | 6-2 | Sr. | Atlanta, Ga. |
Jordan Iliff, Missouri | RS | 6-2 | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo. |
Caroline Kerr, Tennessee | S | 5-11 | R-So. | Champaign, Ill. |
Emma Halter, Texas | L | 5-5 | Jr. | Indianapolis, Ind. |
Reagan Rutherford, Texas | OPP | 6-0 | R-Sr. | Missouri City, Texas |
Madisen Skinner, Texas | OH | 6-2 | Sr. | Katy, Texas |
Ella Swindle, Texas | S | 6-3 | So. | Columbia, Mo. |
Ifenna Cos Okpalla, Texas A&M | MB | 6-2 | So. | Flower Mound, Texas |
Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M | OPP | 6-3 | So. | Sugar Land, Texas |
Season tickets for the 2024 Florida Volleyball campaign are on-sale now via theGator Ticket Office Onlineor by calling 352-375-4683 ext. 6800. Click here to check out thefull 2024 scheduleincluding 15 home matches and featuring visits from Texas, FSU, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, and UCF. Single-match ticket sales will begin in August. Tickets will remain entirely mobile via the Florida Gators app for the 2024 season.
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