9 Things to Know About the 2019 Gators
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 | Volleyball
Before Friday’s showdown with No. 25 Louisville, get an idea of who the 2019 Gators are
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators open their 2019 campaign at the Cardinal Classic, facing off against No. 25 Louisville (Aug. 30) and Dayton (Aug. 31).
Florida then welcomes reigning national champions and current No. 1 Stanford to Exactech Arena on Sept. 4. But before those marquee matchups, let's take a look at the nine things you need to know about Florida's volleyball team.
1. Florida debuted at No. 10 in the AVCA Division I Coaches' Poll, marking the 28th consecutive season the Gators are a preseason top-15 team. The streak runs all the way back to 1992, and only Nebraska and Stanford boast longer streaks.
The Gators are looking to win their 24th SEC title, the most of any of other volleyball program in the league – next closest is Kentucky with six titles. Florida was picked to finish second in the SEC Preseason Coaches poll, finishing just behind the Wildcats, and Rachael Kramer was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
2. (Almost) everyone is back. The Gators return four of six starters and their libero, as well as 14 of 16 letterwinners from their 2018 Regional Semifinal team.
Florida returns 84.5% of its kills, 80% of its service aces, 73.8% of its solo blocks, 77.65 of its block assists and 83.2% of its digs to the 2019 squad.
The team welcomes transfers T'ara Ceasar (Georgia) and Anaya Martin (Louisville) and this veteran-laden squad has been working together since January.
3. Florida adopted four-year old Sophia to join them as the newest member of the 2019 Gators.
Sophia and the Gators were paired together through the Friends of Jaclyn organization. She loves Minnie Mouse, the Wizard of Oz and the color purple.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors or other childhood cancers. They also raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe of the Sidelines, and Guardian Angel programs.
4. Big matches are on the docket for Florida.
In the first week of competition alone, the Gators face three ranked opponents, including No. 1 Stanford and No. 3 Minnesota.
UF faces five ranked opponents during six matches this season: No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 7 Kentucky (2x), No. 19 Tennessee and No. 25 Louisville.
Florida will face 10 teams that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament – six of which travel to Gainesville this year. Of the 10 tournament teams UF will face in 2019, seven won at least one NCAA Tournament game and three won two or more.
5. No shortage of experience for the 2019 Gators. They feature four seniors, tying the second-largest total in program history.
The senior class consists of two-time AVCA All-American Rachael Kramer, Allie Gregory, Morgyn Greer and Chanelle Hargreaves.
6. Who will replace Taelor Kellum & Allie Monserez?
Kellum averaged 1.94 kills per set and 1.15 blocks per set a season ago and with the loss of that production, the Gators look to Darrielle King and Lauren Dooley to join Rachael Kramer in the rotation.
In regards to who will run the offense after the departure of Allie Monserez, the heir-apparent looks to be the youngest of the Monserezs in Marlie. Last season, she averaged 3.87 assists per set, but is ready in her sophomore season to step up and take the reins.
7. Florida welcomed two great additions to the coaching staff for the 2019 season.
Skylar Lopas will serve as the volunteer assistant coach after a three-year stint as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of North Florida. Prior to that, he was the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Michigan.
OJ Catalan takes over as the Technical Coordinator after serving as both assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LIU Brooklyn for the past five years. Before that stint, he was the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma during the 2012-13 seasons.
8. The Wise Effect.
Mary Wise is one of the most decorated coaches in college volleyball history. She currently sits seventh among active coaches in total wins (934) and second among Division I coaches.
Her .845 win percentage is third among active coaches with 20+ seasons of experience and is fourth overall in NCAA history among all coaches with 20+ seasons.
The experience and winning history that Wise brings to the Gators has allowed for 28 consecutive years of 25+ win seasons and 28-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
9. The goal: bring that ever-elusive first national title to Gainesville.
Florida has made eight NCAA semifinals appearances during the Wise-era, dating back to 1991, something only five other programs can claim. Florida has 850 wins during that span, trailing only Penn State (860) for the national lead. The Gators are one of just four teams to make each of the last 28 NCAA Tournaments. Their 73 NCAA Tournament wins (72 of which belong to Wise) are the eighth-most in Division I history.
But that NCAA title has remained just out of reach. The last time the Gators advanced to the NCAA National Final was the 2017 season. Florida all of the keys with this veteran-laden team, there are plenty of reasons to believe this could be the year of the Gator.
FOLLOW FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL
FloridaGators.com
Twitter
Instagram
Coach Mary Wise on Twitter | Coach Mary Wise on Instagram
Facebook
Florida then welcomes reigning national champions and current No. 1 Stanford to Exactech Arena on Sept. 4. But before those marquee matchups, let's take a look at the nine things you need to know about Florida's volleyball team.
1. Florida debuted at No. 10 in the AVCA Division I Coaches' Poll, marking the 28th consecutive season the Gators are a preseason top-15 team. The streak runs all the way back to 1992, and only Nebraska and Stanford boast longer streaks.
The Gators are looking to win their 24th SEC title, the most of any of other volleyball program in the league – next closest is Kentucky with six titles. Florida was picked to finish second in the SEC Preseason Coaches poll, finishing just behind the Wildcats, and Rachael Kramer was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
Gators coming in @ No. 🔟 in the @AVCAVolleyball preseason poll! https://t.co/GLfRpRQZaA#GoGators pic.twitter.com/rR1RGvJEXe
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) August 13, 2019
Gators ✌️in the @SEC Preseason Poll!
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) July 3, 2019
@Rachael5Kramer ➡️All-SEC Preseason Team 👊https://t.co/rgxng9zida #GoGators pic.twitter.com/UfWtHSwTH3
2. (Almost) everyone is back. The Gators return four of six starters and their libero, as well as 14 of 16 letterwinners from their 2018 Regional Semifinal team.
Florida returns 84.5% of its kills, 80% of its service aces, 73.8% of its solo blocks, 77.65 of its block assists and 83.2% of its digs to the 2019 squad.
The team welcomes transfers T'ara Ceasar (Georgia) and Anaya Martin (Louisville) and this veteran-laden squad has been working together since January.
3. Florida adopted four-year old Sophia to join them as the newest member of the 2019 Gators.
Sophia and the Gators were paired together through the Friends of Jaclyn organization. She loves Minnie Mouse, the Wizard of Oz and the color purple.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors or other childhood cancers. They also raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe of the Sidelines, and Guardian Angel programs.
The best new teammate we could ask for 🐊🏐
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) July 12, 2019
We are so happy to welcome Sophia onto our team & into our lives 💙🧡#GoGators pic.twitter.com/AYVnPyhX54
Welcome to the family, Sophia 💙🧡https://t.co/1WkFYqxdze#GoGators
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) July 12, 2019
4. Big matches are on the docket for Florida.
In the first week of competition alone, the Gators face three ranked opponents, including No. 1 Stanford and No. 3 Minnesota.
UF faces five ranked opponents during six matches this season: No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 7 Kentucky (2x), No. 19 Tennessee and No. 25 Louisville.
Florida will face 10 teams that made the 2018 NCAA Tournament – six of which travel to Gainesville this year. Of the 10 tournament teams UF will face in 2019, seven won at least one NCAA Tournament game and three won two or more.
Getting volleyball fever? 🏐
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) July 23, 2019
Here are 6️⃣ early season matchups you'll want to circle on your calendar!#NCAAVBhttps://t.co/xZ7Phu7igd
5. No shortage of experience for the 2019 Gators. They feature four seniors, tying the second-largest total in program history.
The senior class consists of two-time AVCA All-American Rachael Kramer, Allie Gregory, Morgyn Greer and Chanelle Hargreaves.
6. Who will replace Taelor Kellum & Allie Monserez?
Kellum averaged 1.94 kills per set and 1.15 blocks per set a season ago and with the loss of that production, the Gators look to Darrielle King and Lauren Dooley to join Rachael Kramer in the rotation.
In regards to who will run the offense after the departure of Allie Monserez, the heir-apparent looks to be the youngest of the Monserezs in Marlie. Last season, she averaged 3.87 assists per set, but is ready in her sophomore season to step up and take the reins.
7. Florida welcomed two great additions to the coaching staff for the 2019 season.
Skylar Lopas will serve as the volunteer assistant coach after a three-year stint as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of North Florida. Prior to that, he was the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Michigan.
OJ Catalan takes over as the Technical Coordinator after serving as both assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LIU Brooklyn for the past five years. Before that stint, he was the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma during the 2012-13 seasons.
8. The Wise Effect.
Mary Wise is one of the most decorated coaches in college volleyball history. She currently sits seventh among active coaches in total wins (934) and second among Division I coaches.
Her .845 win percentage is third among active coaches with 20+ seasons of experience and is fourth overall in NCAA history among all coaches with 20+ seasons.
The experience and winning history that Wise brings to the Gators has allowed for 28 consecutive years of 25+ win seasons and 28-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
9. The goal: bring that ever-elusive first national title to Gainesville.
Florida has made eight NCAA semifinals appearances during the Wise-era, dating back to 1991, something only five other programs can claim. Florida has 850 wins during that span, trailing only Penn State (860) for the national lead. The Gators are one of just four teams to make each of the last 28 NCAA Tournaments. Their 73 NCAA Tournament wins (72 of which belong to Wise) are the eighth-most in Division I history.
But that NCAA title has remained just out of reach. The last time the Gators advanced to the NCAA National Final was the 2017 season. Florida all of the keys with this veteran-laden team, there are plenty of reasons to believe this could be the year of the Gator.
These five programs are on the cusp of winning their first National Championship:
— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) August 14, 2019
🤙 @BYUwvolleyball
🐊 @GatorsVB
🔶 @IlliniVBall
🐿 @GopherVBall
👐 @BadgerVB #NCAAVBhttps://t.co/9ZOB8H4eO4
FOLLOW FLORIDA VOLLEYBALL
FloridaGators.com
Coach Mary Wise on Twitter | Coach Mary Wise on Instagram
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballFlorida Volleyball | in our feels
Saturday, January 24
Florida Volleyball | Top 5 Digs from the 2025 Season
Tuesday, December 23
Florida Volleyball | Top 5 Plays from the NCAA Tournament
Saturday, December 13
Florida Volleyball | Post-Match Press Conference | SMU [NCAAT]
Sunday, December 07
