Entering her 20th season in Gainesville, Florida volleyball coach Mary Wise has built the most consistent program in Gator athletics.
During her tenure, Wise has a 603-67 record, good for an eye-popping .900 winning percentage. She has been named the AVCA national coach of the year twice (1992 and ’96), Southeastern Conference coach of the year 11 times and was the first-ever female coach to lead her team to the national championship match and capture her 500th victory.
But through it all – 22 athletes with 55 All-American honors, 50 players with 100 All-SEC honors and seven final four appearances included – one major triumph has eluded her.
An NCAA national title.
Interestingly, Wise always has made it clear that UF was unlikely ever to lift the big trophy at the end of a season until someone else won the SEC title. After all, how much good does it do to completely dominate your conference when it doesn’t help you very much in the NCAA Tournament?
Now, Florida fans can breathe an awkward sigh of relief, as after 18 consecutive years of being the best in the SEC, the 25-6 Gators finally were surpassed last year by overall champion LSU and Eastern Division winner Kentucky.
So, with that out of the way, could this be the year UF finally takes it all?
“There’s going to have to be a lot of improvement from August to December, but this year, unlike the past few – you can thank Penn State for that – it’s more wide open,” Wise said Wednesday afternoon at Media Day. “I think our sport has evolved, much like men’s basketball, (so that) in any given year, there are five or six teams that might look like they’ve got the edge.”
Wise said she believes parity will be a big part of college volleyball’s future.
“I think we’re moving to the point where it’s going to go to 15, 20 teams (that can win it all) because there’s so much better talent now around the country,” said Wise, whose biggest personnel challenge entering the season is having to replace graduated record-setting libero Elyse Cusack. “If a team gets hot at the right time, I think you’re going to start to see that.
“I think that’s the best thing for our sport. No longer can you pencil in the four top seeds, (the) regional finalists, (who’s) going to the Final Four like you could for a long time.”
Regional semifinalists in 2009, the Gators opened this season ranked 13th, highest among SEC schools.
The primary reason Wise talked about the needed in-season improvement is how many new faces are being integrated.
The 2010 team once again will feature 6-foot-2 junior setter/right-side hitter Kelly Murphy, arguably the nation’s most versatile player, as well as standout outside hitters Callie Rivers, a fiery 5-11 senior; 6-1 junior middle blocker Cassandra Anderson; and Kristy Jaeckel, a 6-2 junior who was named preseason All-SEC along with Murphy.
But it also will include talented transfers in 6-1 outside hitter Stephanie Ferrell (Hawaii), 6-2 right-side Tangerine Wiggs (Washington State) and 6-0 outside hitter Cinthya Roberto (Blinn College), as well as 5-9 freshman setter Chanel Brown and 6-1 redshirt freshman middle blocker Chloe Mann, a local product from Gainesville Eastside. Freshman libero Taylor Unroe will miss the season while she recovers from surgery to repair a broken bone in her ankle suffered during high school.
So, with an intentionally brutal schedule that includes matches versus ninth-ranked Iowa State (Aug. 28 in Lincoln, Neb.), at No. 2 Nebraska (Aug. 29), home against 17th-ranked Colorado State (Sept. 4), home against defending national champion/No. 1 Penn State (Sept. 10), home versus either third-ranked Texas or fourth-ranked Stanford (Sept. 11), at No. 16 Kentucky (Sept. 17), at 19th-ranked Tennessee (Sept. 19), at No. 15 Florida State (Sept. 22) and home against 23rd-ranked LSU (Oct. 1), you might see a team with a mediocre record early that grows together as the season progresses.
Because of the potential early bumps, Wise said she is even happier to have Rivers, who she said is UF’s unquestioned leader and someone who “may go down – her legacy – as the most competitive player that has come through this program.”
A fiery sort, Rivers is the daughter of Boston Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers, and Murphy said Callie plays with the kind of spirit and aggression others can’t help but follow. And while her younger teammates spoke of taking things “one match at a time,” seemingly cautious about discussing titles, Rivers did not hide her agenda.
“I think all the seniors would be thrilled with an SEC championship, especially after last year,” said Rivers, one of three seniors (along with 6-1 middle blocker Lauren Bledsoe and 5-8 libero Erin Fleming) on the roster.
“And, a national championship after that.”
RETURNING STAT LEADERS
Kills: Kristy Jaeckel 347, Kelly Murphy 315, Lauren Bledsoe 155, Callie Rivers 152, Cassandra Anderson 141
Assists: Kelly Murphy 760
Hitting percentage: Cassandra Anderson .353, Kelly Murphy .344, Lauren Bledsoe .342, Callie Rivers .277, Kristy Jaeckel .274
Digs: Kelly Murphy 240, Kristy Jaeckel 238
Service Aces: Kristy Jaeckel 27, Kelly Murphy 20, Cassandra Anderson 18
Blocks: Cassandra Anderson 133, Kelly Murphy 63, Callie Rivers 44, Kristy Jaeckel 42, Lauren Bledsoe 34
Triple-Doubles: Kelly Murphy 9
Double-Doubles: Kelly Murphy 16, Kristy Jaeckel 9