Special report on the Florida Gators volleyball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida’s volleyball team earned the No. 2 ranking in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as the league announced Wednesday.
Florida, who finished last season’s campaign with a 27-5 record and won a share of the 2019 SEC Championship, garnered two first place votes and totaled 132 points, just 11 points behind Kentucky for first place.
The Gators also boasted one Preseason All-SEC selection in junior outside hitter Thayer Hall. The Spartanburg, S.C. native is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and earned a spot on the All-SEC team in 2019. Hall finished her sophomore campaign with 13 double-doubles, the fourth-best mark in the SEC.
UF returns 12 players from last season’s Regional Semifinal team, including five starters: Holly Carlton, Lauren Dooley, Thayer Hall, Paige Hammons and Lauren Dooley.
The Gators welcome four freshmen to the 2020 squad and transfer T’ara Ceasar will see her first action on the court this fall after sitting out the 2019 season due to SEC Transfer rules.
The fall portion of the 2020 campaign will kick off on Oct. 16. and will consist of eight matches against four opponents. Those eight matches will be played in a double-header format, consisting of two home weekends and two away weekends.
The Gators are slated to make their 2020 debut at Auburn on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Florida’s home opener is the following week, when Alabama comes to town on Oct. 30 for a 7 p.m. matchup.
Details on fan capacity with the released at a later date.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
Place
School
Points
1.
Kentucky (11)
143
1.
Florida (2)
132
1.
Missouri
120
1.
Texas A&M
103
1.
LSU
98
1.
Georgia
91
1.
South Carolina
77
Tennessee
77
9.
Arkansas
52
10.
Ole Miss
40
11.
Alabama
34
12.
Mississippi State
28
13.
Auburn
19
Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
Name, School
Pos.
Yr.
Ht.
Hometown
Thayer Hall, Florida
Gabby Curry, Kentucky
Madison Lilley, Kentucky
Alli Stumler, Kentucky
Taylor Bannister, LSU
Kylie Deberg, Missouri
Tyanna Omazic, Missouri
Mikayla Robinson, South Carolina
Camille Conner, Texas A&M
OH
L
S
OH
RS
OH
MB
MB
S
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
6-3
5-8
5-11
6-1
6-5
6-4
6-2
6-2
6-1
Spartanburg, S.C.
Buford, Ga.
Overland Park, Kan.
Floyds Knobs, Ind.
Missouri City, Texas
Hudson, Iowa
Kansas City, Mo.
West Dundee, Ill.
Katy, Texas