The Gators head west this weekend for three matches against Colorado St., Northern Colorado and Michigan St.
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/8/27/vs._Colorado_St._Northern_Colorado_Michigan_St..pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida volleyball team opens the 2024 season with a Rocky Mountain road trip this Labor Day weekend.
MATCHUPS
Friday, Aug. 30 – 8 p.m. ET
No. 11 Florida at Colorado State
Florida: 0-0 | Colorado State 0-0
Moby Arena – Ft.Collins, Colo.
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 8 p.m. ET
No. 11 Florida at Northern Colorado
Florida: 0-0 | Northern Colorado: 0-0
Bank of Colorado Arena – Greeley, CO
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 5 p.m. ET
No. 11 Florida vs. Michigan State
Florida: 0-0 | Michigan State: 0-0
Moby Arena – Ft. Collins, CO
Friday’s match will be streamed on Mountain West Network<https://csurams.com/sports/2017/7/28/mountain-west-network>, while Saturday’s match will be available on ESPN+.<https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/c59508c0-7459-4026-8013-2c70ede67faa> All three matches can be followed via livestats, which can be found on the schedule page<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule>.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
* Florida’s roster looks a bit different from a year ago, as the Gators welcome eight newcomers to the 2024 roster.
* The Gators lost a senior class of four student-athletes, including Atlanta Vibe draftee Anna Dixon and Kennedy Muff, Nnedi Okammor and Sofia Victoria.
* The six freshmen bring in numerous accolades, including Gatorade Player of the Year, State Champions, national team experience and high school All-America honors. The two transfers bring in All-American and All-Conference honors as well as bring a plethora of experience to the court.
* Florida returns 2023 AVCA Second Team All-American and All-SEC Freshman Kennedy Martin who leads all Gator attackers that are returning to the 2024 team. Her 492 kills registered during her rookie season is the most from any freshman in Florida history.
* The Gator offense remains intact as it returns .639 percent of its kills from 2023. Florida’s top-two in kills, Kennedy Martin (492) and AC Fitzpatrick (298), remain with the team.
* Florida remains incredibly strong behind the service line, returning .764 percent of its service aces.
* The Gators look to fill the production lost at the net, as they lost .455 percent of their solo blocks and .465 percent of their block assists. Kennedy Martin leads all Gator blockers that are returning. Martin recorded 108 block assists and 4 solo blocks last season.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Gators enter the season ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Division I Coaches’ Poll on Aug. 19, marking the 33rd consecutive season the Gators are a preseason Top-15 team. The streak runs all the way to 1992, and only Nebraska boasts a longer active streak. Florida, who earned one first-place vote and was picked to finish second in the SEC behind newest member and two-time defending National Champions Texas, is one of six SEC teams in the top-25.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Florida had two members named to the Preseason All-SEC Team: Alexis Stucky and Kennedy Martin. Stucky collected her second career Preseason All-SEC honor, while Martin garnered her first. The duo continues the streak of Florida having at least one player named to the Preseason All-SEC Team since the conference’s first team was named in 2008.
SCOUTING REPORT
Colorado State
* 2023 Record: 19-12 overall | 13-7 Mountain West
* Series History
* Florida leads series 4-2 (3-2 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 2-1 | 4-set: 1-1 | 5-set: 1-0
* Home: 3-1 | Away: 1-1 | Neutral: 0-0
* Last time out: 2010 | W 3-1 | Home |25-22, 25-19, 25-27, 25-21
* Quick Hits
* Six returners, including four fifth-year athletes
* Picked to finish first in Mountain West Conference in 2024
* Finished second in both 2023 regular season and tournament standings in the Mountain West Conference
Northern Colorado
* 2023 Record: 18-12 overall | 12-4 Big Sky
* Series History
* Saturday’s match marks the first time the two programs will face eachother.
* Quick Hits
* 10 returners, six newcomers
* Picked to finish fourth in Big Sky Conference in 2024
* Finished second in 2023 Big Sky Conference regular season
Michigan State
* 2023 Record: 17-14 overall | 9-11 Big Ten
* Series History
* Florida leads series 2-0 (2-0 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 1-0 | 4-set: 1-0 | 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 1-0 | Away: 1-0 | Neutral: 0-0
* Last time out: 2016 | W 3-0 | Away | 25-13, 25-16, 25-19
* Quick Hits
* 15 returners, six newcomers
* Its 17 victories in 2023 were the most by the program since 2018
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