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 26-7 overall and 15-3 in SEC play, garnered two first place votes and totaled 132 points, just nine points behind Kentucky for first place.
The Gators also boasted one Preseason All-SEC selection in senior middle blocker
Rachael Kramer. She is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and has earned a spot on the All-SEC team in back-to-back seasons. Kramer finished her junior campaign ranked 21st in the nation in blocks per set (1.38).
UF returns all but two players from the Regional Semifinal team, including five starters:
Rachael Kramer,
Paige Hammons,
Holly Carlton,
Thayer Hall and
Allie Gregory.
Florida will play 17 home matches this season, six of which will be against 2018 NCAA Tournament qualifiers – Stanford, Florida State, Northern Arizona, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The Gators open the 2019 season with the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Ky. Florida faces host Louisville on Aug. 30, then takes on Dayton on Aug. 31.
Florida then returns to the Sunshine State for the home opener against reigning national champions Stanford on Sept. 4.
Preseason Coaches' Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
| Place |
School |
Points |
|
Kentucky (11) |
143 |
|
Florida (2) |
132 |
|
Tennessee |
118 |
|
Missouri |
113 |
|
South Carolina |
97 |
|
Texas A&M |
88 |
|
LSU |
82 |
|
Georgia |
58 |
|
Arkansas |
52 |
|
Ole Miss |
49 |
|
Alabama |
46 |
|
Auburn |
20 |
|
Mississippi State |
16 |
Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
| Name, School |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
| Rachael Kramer, Florida |
MB |
Sr. |
6-8 |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Gabby Curry, Kentucky |
Libero |
So. |
5-8 |
Buford, Ga. |
| Leah Edmond, Kentucky |
OH |
Jr. |
6-2 |
Lexington, Ky. |
| Madison Lilley, Kentucky |
S |
So. |
5-11 |
Overland Park, Kan. |
| Taylor Bannister, LSU |
RS |
Jr. |
6-5 |
Missouri City, Texas |
| Emily Stroup, Ole Miss |
OH |
Sr. |
6-0 |
Fargo, N.D. |
| Kylie Deberg, Missouri |
OH |
Jr. |
6-4 |
Hudson, Iowa |
| Mikayla Shields, South Carolina |
RS/OPP |
Sr. |
6-0 |
Orlando, Fla. |
| Tessa Grubbs, Tennessee |
OH |
Sr. |
6-3 |
Tega Cay, S.C. |
| Hollann Hans, Texas A&M |
OH |
Sr. |
6-1 |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
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