2016 Florida Gators volleyball season preview

In seven days the Florida Gators volleyball team will begin their season in Eugene, Oregon as the 10th ranked team in the country. Participating in the 2016 Vert Challenge, the Gators open up their season against the defending National Champions, the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday night. The following day they will square off with the Oregon Ducks. The Gators defeated Oregon (3-0) and Texas (3-1) last year in the 2015 Vert Challenge. However, in the Elite Eight, Texas redeemed themselves and defeated the Gators to move onto the Final Four.

An interesting fact to remember is due to the O’Connell Center under renovations, the volleyball team will be playing in the Lemerand Facility.

Head Coach

Since Mary Wise took over the program in 1991, Florida has become one of the premier volleyball school’s in the country. In her 24 years as the head coach, she has completely changed the culture and the standard of Gator volleyball. Before she took over the helm, the Gators volleyball program only appeared in the NCAA Tournament once. Coach Wise surpassed that total after her first two years and hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament since arriving in Gainesville. She boasts a record of 64-25 (.719) during NCAA Tournament play as the Gators head coach.

Coach Wise has generated a long list of accomplishments while wearing the Orange and Blue. She has led the Gators to 21 SEC titles, 18 of them being consecutively from 1991 to 2008. Along with the SEC titles, Coach Wise has been rewarded with the SEC Coach of the Year honor 14 times. In the 24 NCAA Tournament appearances as the Gators head coach, seven of them have led to Final Four berths, including one national title shot. After Florida bolstered a record of 25 wins and 7 losses last year, it marked the 25th consecutive year Florida accumulated 25 wins or more.

The Returners

According to coach Mary Wise this year is a little bit of the unknowns, “But what we do know, is that there are three returning players with a whole lot of experience in Alex (Holston), Rhamat (Alhassan) and Carli (Snyder). It’s going to be our goal, just like it was last year, to play our best volleyball at the end. If we can do that, this team has the chance to be pretty special.”

Florida returns nine players, which includes three starters, from a year ago. Right side hitter and senior Alex Holston returns this season and provides the power at the net to carry this team. In her junior year, the Onley, Maryland native started in all 32 matches and played in 117 sets. Holston led the Gators with 381 kills (3.26/set) last season on 901 attacks. She also had 19 aces while serving, which was fifth on the team. She also recorded 71 blocks throughout the course of the season.

Another returning starter, and probably the most consistent hitter, is Rhamat Alhassan. Alhassan is the second tallest player on this Gators roster, standing at 6-feet-4 inches. As the outside hitter, she recorded 371 kills a season ago, which was second on the team. However, she was the most precise hitter, scoring on forty-two percent (42%) of her attacks. Alhassan also lead the team in points (485.5) and points per set (4.15) last season. With her large presence at the net, Alhassan led the Gators with 189 blocks (1.62/set).

Carli Synder is another key component that returns to the Gators this year. The junior from Macomb, Michigan appeared in 112 sets last year, starting 27 of the 28 games she played in. As an outside hitter last year, Snyder registered a career high 247 kills on 635 swings. She also provided balance on defense. To go along with her 247 kills, Snyder recorded 246 digs on the defensive end. Snyder was third on the team in double-doubles with three.

The Newcomers

The Florida Gators volleyball team not only returns nine girls, but brings in nine new faces this year. One incoming freshman will get the attention of many. Rachael Kramer is now the tallest player in Gators volleyball history, towering at 6-feet-8 inches tall. Kramer will immediately provide a presence at the net with her blocking ability. The Phoenix, Arizona native was a 2015 Under Armour High School Second Team All-American.

Cheyenne Huskey is another young Gator who will need to be able to contribute early. Florida lost its top four statistical setters from a year ago, and now Huskey is one of two setters on the team. She will have to fill the role of Mackenzie Dagostino, who recorded 1,286 sets during the 32 game season. That’s 1,184 more than the next girl. In order for Florida to create those kill set ups, Huskey and company must play at a high level.

Sister of former Gator defensive back and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vernon Hargreaves III was apart of the Gators recruiting class. Chanelle Hargreaves was the Hillsborough County Volleyball Player of the Year in 2016. She also led the county in digs during the 2015 season. If she can be anything like her brother, this girl has a bright future ahead.

In this recruiting class, it includes eight freshman and one transfer. Her name is Caroline ‘CK’ Knop. She was a Big Ten All-Freshman honoree team as a Wolverine in 2014. Knop is transferring from the University of Michigan. Even at 5-feet-8 inches, Knop was second on the team in kills a year ago as a Wolverine. She played outside hitter. If she can bring that power to Gainesville, these Gators will be loaded up front at the net.