Trio of Gators earn SEC Weekly Accolades

Kennedy Martin, Elli McKissock and Taylor Parks received league accolades on Monday.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For their contributions in No. 22 Florida volleyball’s two wins this week, Kennedy Martin, Elli McKissock and Taylor Parks earn SEC weekly accolades, as the league announced Monday.

Sophomore opposite hitter Kennedy Martin was named Co-Offensive Player of the week to earn a share of the award for three-straight weeks, as Taylor Parks merited Freshman of the week for the second-consecutive time. Libero Elli McKissock grabbed Florida’s first defensive award of the season after earning Co-Defensive Player of the Week. It marks the first time since 2021 that three Gators earned three honors in one week.

Martin becomes the first Gator in program history to earn a share of the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for three-consecutive weeks. She joins the list of just two former Florida players who were awarded SEC Offensive accolades more than twice in a single season: Alex Holston obtained the honor four times in 2014, while Kelly Murphy was the first to achieve four SEC Offensive Player of the Week accolades four times in 2010.

The Fort Mill, S.C. native averaged 7.19 points per set and 6.63 kills per set and a .310 hitting percentage in Florida’s two wins last week. She recorded her first double-double of the season after posting 31 kills and 10 digs en route to tying her own individual single-game-kill school record in Florida’s 3-1 comeback win at Arkansas on Oct. 30. In Sunday’s win over Ole Miss, the sophomore finished with a team-high 22 kills, while tallying three digs, two blocks and one ace.

Additionally, the All-American is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in points per set (5.86) and kills per set (5.10), while leading the conference in both.

McKissock receives not only Florida’s but also her first defensive award of the season after finishing with 20 digs in the Gators two wins to match her four-set individual high this season. Additionally, she dropped a team-high three aces in a four-set win over Ole Miss on Nov. 3. The Windermere, Fla. native currently ranks 2nd for career digs (1,968), 9th for career aces (135) and 20th for career assists (512) in Program history as well as sits fifth in digs per set (4.22) in conference play. Monday’s accolades marks the fifth SEC Defensive Player of the Week award of her career and the sixth overall weekly honor.
Parks collected her second-straight SEC Freshman of the Week award after averaging 12.13 assists per set in Florida’s 2-0 week. She dished out 49 assists in her three sets of play as Florida leading setter to guide the Gators to a 3-1 comeback win against the Razorbacks. In Sunday’s victory over Ole Miss, the Clearwater, Fla. native recorded her third career double-double with 48 assists and 10 digs, while posting a career-high three blocks, two aces and two kills. Monday’s honor marks her third freshman accolade of her career.

Up Next:

The Gators homestand continues with back-to-back matches inside the O’Dome on Friday, Nov. 8 against Auburn and Sunday, Nov. 10 against Alabama. Friday’s matchup with the Tigers is slated for 7 p.m., while Sunday’s versus the Crimson Tide starting at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on SEC Network+ or can be heard from the airways of ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF. Additionally, fans can follow @GatorsVB on socials for match updates.

Fans can purchase single-game tickets for the remaining matches. To purchase, click here<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/buy?id=NzEx>. For more information on volleyball tickets, call the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683<tel:3523754683>.

SEC Weekly Honorees:

Co-Offensive

Kennedy Martin, Florida and Alexis Shelton, Oklahoma

Co-Defensive

Elli McKissock, Florida and Arissa Smith, Mississippi State

Setter

Emma Grome, Kentucky

Freshman

Taylor Parks, Florida

Player of the Week

Emma Grome, Kentucky

Florida’s 2024 SEC Weekly Honorees