Alexis Stucky and Kennedy Martin were named to the Preseason All-SEC Team on Wednesday.
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.
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 sophomore 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 sophomore, 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, Lauren 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 the Gator Ticket Office Online<http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_volleyball_.aspx> or by calling 352-375-4683 ext. 6800. Click here to check out the full 2024 schedule<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule> including 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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