Special report on the Florida Gators volleyball team
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Florida All-Americans Rhamat Alhassan and Alex Holston headline the 2016 SEC Preseason All-SEC Team, while the No. 10 Gators were picked to finish second in the conference in the annual Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Gators picked up five first-place votes and 131 total points in the poll and joined Kentucky and Texas A&M with two players each named to the Preseason All-SEC Team. The Aggies were predicted to finish first in the league this season.
Florida boasts nine veteran returners, alongside eight freshmen and one transfer in defensive specialist CK, Caroline Knop. Holston, the 2014 SEC Player of the Year, is Florida’s lone senior on the 2016 Gator team.
Just last week, the Gators were tabbed the preseason No. 10 team in the nation by the AVCA. The Orange and Blue, who led the nation last season in hitting efficiency (.313) and made the program’s 15th Elite Eight appearance, will open the 2016 campaign Friday, Aug. 26, against defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Nebraska as part of the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Ore. The Gators are additionally scheduled to square off with three other preseason top-25 squads in No. 16 Texas A&M (Oct. 16), No. 17 FSU (Sept. 14) and No. 24 Kentucky (Sept. 28).
UF finished the 2015 season 25-7 overall and 13-5 in SEC play, boasted five All-Americans, three of which return this year in Rhamat Alhassan, Holston and Carli Snyder. The Gators advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th consecutive season, all under head coach Mary Wise, and kept its 25-year streak of 25-win seasons alive.
2016 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
Place
School
Points
1.
Texas A&M (7)
137
2.
Florida (5)
131
3.
Kentucky
123
4.
Missouri (1)
119
5.
Arkansas
93
6.
Alabama
90
7.
Auburn
84
8.
LSU
60
9.
Tennessee
53
T10.
Mississippi State
39
T10.
South Carolina
39
12.
Ole Miss
33
13.
Georgia
13
2016 Preseason All-SEC Team
Name, School
Pos.
Yr.
Ht.
Hometown
Krystal Rivers, Alabama
MB
R-Sr.
5-11
Birmingham, Ala.
Pilar Victoria, Arkansas
OH
Sr.
5-11
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Rhamat Alhassan, Florida
MB
Jr.
6-4
Glenarden, Md.
Alex Holston, Florida
RS
Sr.
6-1
Olney, Md.
Kaz Brown, Kentucky
MB
Jr.
6-4
Waterloo, Iowa
Ashley Dusek, Kentucky
DS
Jr.
5-7
East Bernard, Texas
Carly Kan, Missouri
OH
Sr.
5-9
Honolulu, Hawaii
Stephanie Aiple, Texas A&M
S/RS
Jr.
6-1
Round Rock, Texas
Jazzmin Babers, Texas A&M
MB
Sr.
6-2
Syracuse, N.Y.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS SERIES
· Meet Morgyn Greer, Chanelle Hargreaves & Rachael Kramer
· Meet Cheyenne Huskey, Caroline “CK” Knop and Mia Sokolowski
· Meet Darrielle King, Allie Gregory & Camille Nieves
FAN DAY
Come meet the Gator newcomers and mingle with the returners in person! Florida volleyball faithful and the Gainesville community will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the 2016 Gator volleyball squad Saturday, August 20, at Volleyball Fan Day in the Lemerand Athletic Center from 3-5 p.m. Admission is free and doors open at 2:30 p.m., with the annual Orange and Blue intrasquad scrimmage slated for 3 p.m. Autographs will follow at approximately 4:30 p.m.