The Gators host North Florida, East Tennessee State and Virginia in the two-day tournament beginning Friday
Match Notes<https://floridagators.com/documents/2022/8/22/1_2_3_GatorsInvitational.pdf>
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 15th-ranked Florida volleyball team opens the 2022 season with the Gators Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The Gators welcome North Florida, East Tennessee State and Virginia to Exactech Arena for the two-day invitational.
Florida is set to take on North Florida on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a two-match slate on Saturday against ETSU (12 p.m.) and Virginia (7:30 p.m.).
All three matches will air on the SEC Network + and can be heard on the airways of ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM.
Of the three teams, Florida has only previously faced Virginia, holding the 3-0 series advantage over the Cavaliers.
Five Things to Know About the 2022 Gators
1. Streaking in the Top-15. Florida debuted at No. 15 in the AVCA Division I Coaches’ Poll on Aug. 15, marking the 31st consecutive season the Gators are a preseason Top15 team. The streak runs all the way back to 1992, and only Nebraska boasts a longer active streak.
2. Gators in the SEC. After finishing third in the league during the 2021 campaign, the 2022 Gators were picked to finish second in the conference, just behind reigning league champion Kentucky for first place. The Gators had two members named to the Preseason All-SEC Team: Merritt Beason and Bre Kelley. Both players earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshmen Team a season ago.
3. Fresh Faces. Florida welcomes eight newcomers to the 2022 roster in five freshmen and three transfers. The freshmen class consists of Emily Canaan, Carly Hendrickson, Emerson Hoyle, Alexis Stucky and Amaya Thomas. Combined, they bring in numerous accolades, national team experience and Under Armour All-American honors. The three transfers – AC Fitzpatrick (Penn State), Marina Markova (Syracuse), Rhett Robinson (North Texas) – bring in AVCA All-America honors, All-Conference honors and a plethora of experience to the court.
4. Summer with National Teams. Merritt Beason, Bre Kelley and Alexis Stucky had the opportunity to win gold with Team USA at the U21 Pan America Games this summer, with Beason earning Tournament MVP honors. Sofia Victoria competed with the National Team of Puerto Rico and was named the Best Scorer at the NORCECA Final Four Women’s Qualification Tournament. Elli McKissock and Gabrielle Essix trained with the Collegiate National Team this summer as well in California.
5. Among the Elite. Mary Wise is one of two coaches to have been named AVCA Coach of the Year at least three times in their career (Russ Rose, Penn State, five times). Since Wise took over the program in 1991, no other team in the nation has won as many matches, with the Gators sitting at 920. Penn State has won 918 with the next closest being Nebraska at 883. Florida sits third all-time in program wins since 1984 with 1,076. That trails only Penn State and Nebraska for the most in the nation.
Familiar Faces Across the Net
* The season opening tournament will feature faces on the opposing coaching staff that Gator Fans are certain to recognize
* The head coach for East Tennessee State University is Gator Great Benavia Jenkins, who was an All-American for the Gators from 1999-2003
* While at Florida, she totaled over 1,000 kills and 600 blocks as a middle blocker, becoming the first Gator to finish their career with over 600 blocks. She was also a three-time AVCA All-American, a four-time All-SEC honoree and won four-straight SEC Championship titles. Jenkins helped lead the team to back-to-back Final Fours in 2002 and 2003, including the team’s first National Championship appearance in the ’03 campaign
* Jenkins enters her fourth season with the Buccaneers and has compiled a 43-32 overall record
* In the final game of the Gators Invitational, Florida will face off against Virginia with former Associate Head Coach Shannon Wells at the helm
* Wells was a member of Florida’s coaching staff for seven seasons and during her tenure at Florida, the Gators went 184-33 (.848) and punched their ticket to seven consecutive NCAA tournaments. Florida won Southeastern Conference titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017. In 2017, the Gators advanced to the NCAA Championship finals for the first time since the 2003 season
* Wells enters her second season with the team after finishing her first season with an 8-20 record
No. 15 Florida vs. North Florida Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Aug. 26 | 7 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=2170230a-d802-4e4d-8123-cacbd0215c8a> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417365> | Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 15 Florida vs. North Florida
Ospreys | 2021 season synopsis: 25-8, 12-4 ASUN
* This is the first meeting between the Gators and the Ospreys
No. 15 Florida vs. ETSU Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Aug. 27 | 12 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=76074eb5-92ef-47ad-9dfb-57c04bf5b662> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417366> | Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 15 Florida vs. ETSU
Buccaneers | 2021 season synopsis: 11-17, 7-9 Southern
* This is the first meeting between the Gators and the Buccaneers
No. 15 Florida vs. Virginia Broadcast Information
Date & Time: Aug. 27 | 7:30 p.m.
Live Stream: SEC Network+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=05a06779-8fbe-417c-ad4d-0eceffdc9955> | Live Stats: Statbroadcast<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=417367> | Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>
Series Information – No. 15 Florida vs. Virginia
Cavaliers | 2021 season synopsis: 8-20, 1-17 ACC
* This is the fourth meeting between the Gators and the Cavaliers
* Florida leads 3-0 (2-0 under Mary Wise)
* 3-set: 3-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-0
* Home: 3-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-0
* Last Time Out: Nov. 24, 1995 | Gainesville, Fla. | W, 3-0 (15-4, 15-8, 15-6)
Promotions – Student Welcome Weekend
* Friday Match:
* Giveaway: Florida Volleyball Rubber Bracelet for students
* Giveaway: Team schedule poster
* Giveaway: Team magnets
* Student Block Party:
* Outside of Gate 3, students will be able to sample free food, play pop-a-shot, spike ball, cornhole and more
* Gate 3 will now be the only gate that students can enter
* Post-match autographs return!
* Saturday Afternoon Match:
* Giveaway: Florida Volleyball Laundry Bag for students
* Giveaway: Team schedule poster
* Giveaway: Team magnets
* Saturday Evening Match:
* Giveaway: Florida Volleyball Rubber Bracelet for students
* Giveaway: Team schedule poster
* Giveaway: Team magnets
* Post-match autographs return!
TICKET INFO | Gator Ticket Office Online<http://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_volleyball_.aspx> | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Season Ticket Prices:
* Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $75 [ages 13 & up]
* Kids Reserved (Sections 01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15) – $35 [ages 12 & under]
* General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $50 [ages 13 and up]
* Kids General Admission (All other lower bowl areas) – $25 [ages 12 & under]
* Courtside Season Pass (subject to availability) – $150 [all ages]
* Loge Seating (subject to availability) [in front of the Sideline Club] – $100 [all ages]
FOLLOW FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL
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