Mary Wise has the Gators back in the NCAA Tournament, where they open this afternoon against Florida State in Orlando. (Photo: Matt Pendleton/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Test Time for Gators Volleyball
Thursday, November 29, 2018 | Volleyball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The last time we saw the Gators play in the NCAA Tournament, they took the court in Kansas City with a chance to win the program's first national title.
Nebraska prevailed in front of more than 18,000 fans – most of them pulling for the Cornhuskers in what felt like a road match – to end UF's stirring tournament run and the careers of UF volleyball standouts Rhamat Alhassan, Carli Snyder, Shainah Joseph and Caroline Knop. When the Gators returned to action this fall to prepare for head coach Mary Wise's 28th season, the word "rebuilding" was thrown around a lot, and rightfully so considering the talent Florida lost.
Nearly a year since that night at the Sprint Center, the Gators (24-6) are back in the NCAA Tournament, facing arch-rival Florida State (19-9) this afternoon in Orlando. The Gators and Seminoles will do battle in the postseason for the first time since 2016, this time at the University of Central Florida.
In a regional featuring four Florida schools – the host Knights (27-3) face Florida Gulf Coast (26-6) in today's second match – the Gators face a difficult but not impossible task to advance. UCF, ranked 10th in the RPI standings, is a formidable host.
The Knights won the American Athletic Conference title and have not lost since a four-set defeat against the Gators in the Bubly Invitational on Sept. 2. Playing at home in front of a sellout crowd at The Venue is certainly on UCF's side.
However, for a shot at either UCF or FGCU, the Gators must beat the Seminoles, something they did earlier this season in Tallahassee. Florida beat FSU in four sets on Sept. 12, highlighted by 12 kills from freshman Thayer Hall and seven blocks from Rachel Kramer.
The Gators own a 3-2 advantage over FSU in the NCAA Tournament, but in their last meeting two years ago in Gainesville, FSU played the role of spoiler to end the Gators' season.
Florida used that loss at motivation a year ago to knock off Alabama State, Miami, UCLA, USC and Stanford on the way to the NCAA final.
One advantage for the Gators as they open the postseason is the return of Hall, who missed a month due to injury. Hall played in the regular-season finale to help the Gators defeat South Carolina. The 2017 Gatorade National Player of the Year out of Spartanburg, S.C., Hall will likely have to play well for the Gators to make a serious tournament run.
The winner of the UCF regional advances to face the winner of the BYU regional. The Cougars are the No. 4 overall seed and one of the favorites. Stanford, a year after losing to the Gators in the national semifinals, is the No. 1 overall seed.
For one of the few times in Wise's career, the Gators are viewed as an underdog in the early rounds of the tournament. Florida did not earn a national seed for only the fourth time in 29 trips, and first since 2011. This marks only the third time under Wise (2004, '11) the Gators have not been a national seed.
Wise has termed this a season for the Gators "to grow." They can grow up fast if they can escape Orlando with their season still intact.
Nebraska prevailed in front of more than 18,000 fans – most of them pulling for the Cornhuskers in what felt like a road match – to end UF's stirring tournament run and the careers of UF volleyball standouts Rhamat Alhassan, Carli Snyder, Shainah Joseph and Caroline Knop. When the Gators returned to action this fall to prepare for head coach Mary Wise's 28th season, the word "rebuilding" was thrown around a lot, and rightfully so considering the talent Florida lost.
Nearly a year since that night at the Sprint Center, the Gators (24-6) are back in the NCAA Tournament, facing arch-rival Florida State (19-9) this afternoon in Orlando. The Gators and Seminoles will do battle in the postseason for the first time since 2016, this time at the University of Central Florida.
In a regional featuring four Florida schools – the host Knights (27-3) face Florida Gulf Coast (26-6) in today's second match – the Gators face a difficult but not impossible task to advance. UCF, ranked 10th in the RPI standings, is a formidable host.
The Knights won the American Athletic Conference title and have not lost since a four-set defeat against the Gators in the Bubly Invitational on Sept. 2. Playing at home in front of a sellout crowd at The Venue is certainly on UCF's side.
The time has arrived. We're ready to get after it 💪
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) November 29, 2018
Florida vs. FSU - The Next Installment
⏰: 4:30
📍: Orlando, Fla.
💻: https://t.co/YZ35zMNmYg
📻: https://t.co/HlP74mtQy8
📈: https://t.co/Z3KjFMpjcr#GoGators pic.twitter.com/o2vZSjkRpg
However, for a shot at either UCF or FGCU, the Gators must beat the Seminoles, something they did earlier this season in Tallahassee. Florida beat FSU in four sets on Sept. 12, highlighted by 12 kills from freshman Thayer Hall and seven blocks from Rachel Kramer.
The Gators own a 3-2 advantage over FSU in the NCAA Tournament, but in their last meeting two years ago in Gainesville, FSU played the role of spoiler to end the Gators' season.
Florida used that loss at motivation a year ago to knock off Alabama State, Miami, UCLA, USC and Stanford on the way to the NCAA final.
One advantage for the Gators as they open the postseason is the return of Hall, who missed a month due to injury. Hall played in the regular-season finale to help the Gators defeat South Carolina. The 2017 Gatorade National Player of the Year out of Spartanburg, S.C., Hall will likely have to play well for the Gators to make a serious tournament run.
The winner of the UCF regional advances to face the winner of the BYU regional. The Cougars are the No. 4 overall seed and one of the favorites. Stanford, a year after losing to the Gators in the national semifinals, is the No. 1 overall seed.
For one of the few times in Wise's career, the Gators are viewed as an underdog in the early rounds of the tournament. Florida did not earn a national seed for only the fourth time in 29 trips, and first since 2011. This marks only the third time under Wise (2004, '11) the Gators have not been a national seed.
Wise has termed this a season for the Gators "to grow." They can grow up fast if they can escape Orlando with their season still intact.
Players Mentioned
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