The Gators, led by first-year head coach Ryan Theis, open the 2025 season against two of the nation’s top-ranked programs.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A new era of Florida volleyball begins this weekend, as the No. 16 Gators, led by first-year head coach Ryan Theis, open the 2025 season against No. 6 Stanford and No. 3 Pitt at the AVCA First Serve Showcase<https://www.avca.org/event/2025-avca-first-serve/> in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Florida will face No. 6 Stanford on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX before taking on No. 3 Pitt on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Match Notes: https://floridagators.com/documents/2025/8/21/Notes_vs._Stanford_and_Pitt.pdf
Vs. No. 6 Stanford
Date: Friday, Aug. 22 – 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska
Broadcast: FOX<https://www.foxsports.com/>
Play-by-play: Connor Onion
Analyst: Emily Ehman
LiveStats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=606633
Vs. No. 3 Pitt
Date: Sunday, Aug. 24 – 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska
Broadcast: ESPN<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/3ab08812-a16c-4fb2-ad0e-1712196cd08e>
Event Play-by-Play: Courtney Lyle
Event Analysts: Holly McPeak, Katie George
Event Reporter: Madison Fitzpatrick
Studio Host: Eric Frede
Studio Analysts: Emily Ehman, Mary Wise
LiveStats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=606636
SERIES AGAINST THE CARDINAL
* Stanford leads the all-time series 10-6, with the most recent meeting coming in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where the Gators fell in four sets during the Louisville Regional Semifinal.
* Series Record: 6-10 (0-0 under Theis)
* 3-set: 3-3, 4-set: 2-3; 5-set: 2-3
* Home: 1-3; Away: 3-1; Neutral: 3-5
SERIES AGAINST THE PANTHERS
* Florida trails Pitt 1-3 in the all-time series, with the most recent meeting taking place in the 2022 NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal, where the Panthers won 3-1.
* Series Record: 1-3 (0-0 under THEIS)
* 3-set: 1-1; 4-set: 0-2; 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 1-1; Away: 0-1; Neutral: 0-1
2025 SEASON AT A GLANCE
* Florida welcomes new head coach Ryan Theis, who became the third head coach since the UF program was reinstated in 1984. He joined the Gators after spending 11 years at Marquette (2014-24). During his time with the Golden Eagles, Theis amassed a record of 258-87 (.748) and led the program to 10 NCAA Tournament berths, advancing to NCAA Regional semifinal action three times, including in 2024. The Golden Eagles won three Big East Regular Season Championships. He holds the highest winning percentage among head coaches in MU history (.749).
* An assistant coach for the Gators in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Theis makes his return to Gainesville, bringing 17 seasons of head coaching experience and a 74% winning pct. (402-141).
* In the midst of the coaching transitions, the Gators kept a core of returners with All-American Alexis Stucky, reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Jaela Auguste, Taylor Parks, Kira Hutson, Alec Rothe, Amaya Thomas, Emily Canaan, Madi Gravlee, Lauren Harden, Emerson Hoyle, Bella Lee and Ella Vogel all back in the Orange and Blue.
* Stucky is set to make a full return in the 2025 season after spending the past two seasons recovering from an ACL injury. Also making her return to the court, Kira Hutson is set to play again after a season-ending shoulder injury sidelined her during her freshman season in 2023 and was out the entire 2024 season.
* Jaela Auguste turned in a strong freshman campaign, averaging a .404 hitting percentage and recording 210 total kills, including a career-best 15 in Florida’s Second Round NCAA Tournament win against then No. 12 Kansas.
* Along with Auguste, the Gators return a strong sophomore class that includes All-SEC Freshman Taylor Parks who played in 30 of Florida’s 31 matches, leading the team in overall assists (857) and aces (39). Sophomores Alec Rothe, Lauren Harden, Bella Lee and Ella Vogel also return for the 2025 season.
* The Gators welcome a pair of redshirt sophomores who are both outside hitters: Jordyn Byrd and Aniya Madkin. Byrd returns to her home state after spending two seasons at Texas, while Madkin joins the Gators following a two-year stint at the University of Arkansas.
* Florida’s fresh faces include freshmen De’Andrea McMillian from Mansfield Texas, Tampa, Florida native Lily Hayes and Milica Vidačić from Serbia.
* Of the 17 players on Florida’s roster, only 13 are currently eligible to play due to injuries sidelining Gravlee, Hoyle, McMillian, and Thomas. Of those 13, just seven have prior experience playing in a collegiate match.
* Abby Gilleland and Ryan Walthall joined the Florida staff as assistant coaches, who worked with Theis the last three seasons at Marquette. During that time, the Golden Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching the 2023 second round and the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024. Marquette program records for overall victories (29) and conference wins (17) were set in 2022 and the Golden Eagles won 2022 and 2023 BIG EAST Conference regular-season titles. Golden Eagle Yadhira Anchante earned 2022 and 2024 AVCA All-America honorable mention accolades and also was the 2022 BIG EAST Conference Setter of the Year.
* Eysha Ambler remains on staff as an Assistant Coach for her fifth season at Florida and her first under the new leadership of Theis.
* Theis’ connections goes even farther than assistant coaching, his wife Jenny Manz (Theis) is one of Florida’s most accomplished players and was a two-time SEC Player of the Year (1998 & 1999).
MARY WISE RETIRES: LEGENDARY COACH LED GATORS FOR 34 SEASONS
* After 34 years as the legendary head coach of the Florida Gators volleyball program, Mary Wise announced her retirement on Feb. 6, 2024.
* 1,068 – Career Victories (4th-most in Division I history)
* .834 – Career Winning Percentage (tied for highest among active Division I coaches; 8th-highest in NCAA history-all divisions, min. 20 seasons)
* 987 – Career Victories at Florida (7th-most by any Division I coach at one school in NCAA history)
* 83 – NCAA Tournament Victories (tied for 6th-most in Division I history)
* 31- Top-15 Finishes in AVCA Division I Coaches Poll from 1991-2023 (tied for 2nd most in that span); 32 top-15 Finishes total
* 30 – NCAA Regional Semifinal Appearances
* 25 – SEC Championships (the most for any SEC women’s team, ninth of all SEC men’s/women’s teams since volleyball’s 1979 debut)
* 15 – SEC Coach of the Year Awards
* 13 – Undefeated SEC Seasons
* 12 – SEC Tournament Titles (discontinued after 2005 and reinstated in 2025)
* 3 – AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year Awards (one of three coaches in history with three)
* Became just the second female coach in Division I history to reach 900 wins at a single school
* 8 – NCAA Final Four Appearances
Single-match tickets and season tickets for the 2025 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 view the full 2025 schedule<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule>, featuring 11 opportunities for Florida fans to watch the Gators in action at home inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, with exciting matchups against Baylor, Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma and more.
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