Gators Host Fan Day on Sunday
Saturday, August 23, 2008 | Volleyball
The University of Florida volleyball team begins its 2008 campaign by hosting its annual Fan Day and Orange and Blue Scrimmage on Sunday. After two weeks of preseason camp, the Gators will now showcase their talents to their fans for the first time this season. Admission is free and open to the public.
Doors will open to the public at 12:30 p.m. ET, with an autograph session featuring UF players and coaches scheduled from 1-2 p.m. Due to NCAA regulations, players will only be allowed to sign the official 2008 team poster, which will be available at Fan Day. No outside items for autographs will be permitted.
The Orange & Blue Scrimmage - the centerpiece of Fan Day - will commence at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Florida head coach Mary Wise also will personally introduce each player prior to the match.
The Gators are coming off a 29-3 record in 2007 that resulted in their 17th consecutive Southeastern Conference Championship, their 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and their 16th NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last 17 years.
Florida boasts one of its youngest lineups in recent years, as there are just four upperclassmen on the Gators' 2008 roster - seniors Kelsey Bowers and Christina Diaz, and juniors Elyse Cusack and Kristina Johnson. Cusack, as just a sophomore, became the first All-America selection at the libero position in school history and she returns to anchor the Florida back row this season.
Florida opens its 2008 season by hosting the Aquafina Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the O'Connell Center. The Gators square off with Conference USA foe UAB on Friday at 7 p.m. and face Big West Conference member Pacific on Saturday at 4 p.m.
The Gators have won four consecutive season openers and have not lost a season-opening match that was played at the O'Connell Center since falling to Colorado State in the 2000 NACWAA Classic in Gainesville. This marks the second time in program history that Florida is opening its campaign against the Blazers, as the Gators won a 3-0 decision against UAB on Aug. 30, 2002 in the University Centre Hotel Invitational.
For Florida volleyball ticket information, please log on to http://www.gatorzone.com/tickets/?tsport=vollb. Tickets are $4 for adult general admission seats. Admission is free for children age 17 and under, and free for University of Florida students by presenting their Gator One cards. Season volleyball tickets are now on-sale for only $35.
Gator Gold Cards also are on sale now - a $150 value for just $60. Gator Gold Cards admit card-holders to all home regular-season volleyball matches, all regular-season home women's basketball games (excluding doubleheaders with men's basketball) and all home regular-season gymnastics meets during the 2008-09 season. For more information, please call the Gator Ticket Office at (800) 34-GATOR (in-state) or (352) 375- GoUF (out-of-state).
