Special report on the Florida Gators volleyball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida will open the 2021 campaign ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Division I Top-25 poll, as announced on Monday.
With the No. 6 spot, the Gators run their streak to 30 consecutive years of ranking in the top-15 of the AVCA preseason poll – the third-longest streak in the nation (Nebraska, Stanford – only Nebraska’s is still currently active).
Florida’s streak dates back to 1992, when the squad began the year ranked No. 12.
During the 2020-21 season, UF went 21-4 overall and 19-3 in the Southeastern Conference. The team made its 31st NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 30th consecutive trip, finishing the season with its 17th Regional Final appearance.
Five Gators earned AVCA All-America honors in 2020-21 (Holly Carlton, T’ara Ceasar, Lauren Forte, Thayer Hall and Marlie Monserez), while five players also earned SEC Honors (Holly Carlton, T’ara Ceasar, Lauren Forte and Thayer Hall – All-SEC; Elli McKissock – All-Freshman).
To start the 2021 campaign, Florida travels to Sacramento, Calif. to compete in the Hornet Invitational, facing off against San Francisco on Aug. 27 and both UC Davis and host Sacramento State on Aug. 28. The Gators open the home portion of their schedule against No. 7 Minnesota on Sept. 5.
Single-match and season tickets are still available for the 14 home matches this season.
TICKET INFO | Gator Ticket Office Online | Call: 352-375-4683 x6800 (Open M-F, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
2021 AVCA Preseason Poll
| Rank | Institution (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Texas (32) | 1561 |
| 2 | Wisconsin (15) | 1522 |
| 3 | Kentucky (17) | 1435 |
| 4 | Washington | 1355 |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1346 |
| 6 | Florida | 1275 |
| 7 | Minnesota | 1130 |
| 8 | Purdue | 1096 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | 1085 |
| 10 | Baylor | 1000 |
| 11 | Ohio State | 981 |
| 12 | Penn State | 902 |
| 13 | Louisville | 806 |
| 14 | Oregon | 776 |
| 15 | BYU | 734 |
| 16 | Western Kentucky | 553 |
| 17 | UCLA | 496 |
| 18 | Washington State | 431 |
| 19 | Utah | 398 |
| 20 | San Diego | 319 |
| 21 | Stanford | 264 |
| 22 | Pepperdine | 234 |
| 23 | Rice | 223 |
| 24 | Georgia Tech | 193 |
| 25 | Norte Dame | 157 |
Other teams receiving votes: Southern California 105; Creighton 69; Missouri 51; Hawai’i 47; LSU 41; UNLV 33; Michigan 28; Marquette 27; Dayton 25; Kansas State 13; Tennessee 13; Kansas 11; Texas State 11; Illinois 9; Arizona 8; UC San Diego 8; Wright State 5; Cal Poly 4; Arkansas 2.
8 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 18 combined points.