Thursday, August 29, 2024 | Volleyball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Taylor Parks remembers it. Mary Wise remembers it. Neither one, in fact, will forget it.
Florida volleyball camp, summer of 2017. Parks was a gifted 10-year-old with setter skills beyond her years. Even better, she knew it. A day into camp, Parks sought out Wise, the UF coach, with a request to be moved up to a higher age group. The one she was in was too easy.
"I found her and was scared to death to ask," Parks recalled. "Tiny," 10-year-old Taylor Parks at UF camp
As it turned out, Wise already had taken notice of the novice.
"She was adorable, she was tiny," Wise said. "But I was so impressed by how much game she had for someone that young."
Wise also was impressed by the kid's confidence. The age-group promotion was granted.
On the last day of camp, Parks' performance (and temerity) were rewarded when she was called up to take a bow as one of the week's "All Stars," by far the youngest of the bunch to be tabbed with the coveted camp accolade.
"One of the best days of my life," Parks said last week.
That was seven years and countless sets ago. Parks, from Clearwater, Fla., went on to build an all-star prep and club team resume as a four-year starter, three-year captain and career record-holder in assists at Calvary Christian to go with AVCA and Under Armour first-team All-America honors in 2023. She did so all the while very much on the radar of Wise and her UF staff. Parks not only signed with the Gators last fall, but enrolled in January and instantly assumed the inside track to the No. 1 setter spot while the team awaits the highly anticipated return of superstar redshirt sophomore Alexis Stucky, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last September.
Parks' first collegiate age-group promotion becomes official Friday night when the 11th-ranked Gators open the 2024 season at Colorado State, the first of three games in as many days in the Rocky Mountain State. UF fans got a first-look at the 5-foot-11 Parks last weekend when she debuted with 46 assists and eight digs in a 3-1 victory against a very sound Georgia Southern squad at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.
The Gators – with Stucky, as well as a outside hitters Kira Hutson and Madi Gravlee (shoulders), plus middle blocker Gabrielle Essix (knee) sidelined by injuries – weren't at their best in the abbreviated match. Parks, though, distinguished herself through her setting savvy and by showing the moment was not too big.
"It was kind of a day when things didn't come easy for us," said Stucky, who watched closely from the Florida sideline, paying particular attention to Parks, her temporary stand-in. "But she found ways to get people kills and opportunities. I think she's going to be awesome."
Stucky has a vested interest in facilitating as much. Her rehabilitation is on schedule and the Gators hope to have the 2022 All-Southeastern Conference first-teamer and Freshman of the Year back on the floor in time for league play late next month.
In the interim, the job of distributing kill opportunities to Kennedy Martin, AC Fitzpatrick and friends rests in the promising fingertips of Parks.
"She's a freshman, but this is a very heady and talented competitor," Wise said. "And she's a winner."
Taylor Parks (20) tallied 46 assists in a shortened four-game exhibition match against Georgia Southern in her freshman debut Saturday.
The Gators, dating to that 2017 camp, long had their eye on Parks, but the injury to Stucky forced them to hasten her arrival to the program. They convinced her to graduate early – with transfer setter Erin Engel, by way of Maryland, not due to arrive until the summer – and be in place for spring exhibition matches. Parks agreed and not only went right to work with Wise and assistant coach Dave Boos, but also got to be tutored by the rehabbing Stucky, whose on-floor work was very much limited until a few months ago.
Together, they were motivated to hasten Parks' development, but without putting undue pressure on their rookie.
"They started off with simple things. The changed [my] techniques in ways you wouldn't have expected, but ended up looking so good and so much better than expected," Parks said. "They slowed things down a lot to break things down and change any little bad habits. Yes, it could seem like a pressure situation, but the way the coaches handled it and the way teammates were there for [me], it never seemed like a stressful situation."
Stucky, meanwhile, was at her side the whole way, thoroughly impressed by Parks' work ethic – in the gym on off days, extra reps after practice – and dedication to her craft.
She also marveled at the youngster's volleyball IQ.
"That girl's brain works. She is crafty and comes up with all kinds of shots that wouldn't come to my mind, and just finds way to create one-on-one opportunities for our hitters," Stucky said. "And she's just so easy to like. I adore her. We have great discussions, like, 'This will be a good situation to hit a different ball' or 'This is what I think when I'm setting this hitter,' just bouncing feedback off each other."
Stucky's sidelines mentoring and encouragement will continue for 11 games, or the length of the non-league slate (at least), with Parks eventually giving way to the heart and soul of the team. And Parks is totally cool with it.
Until All-SEC standout sophomore setter Alexis Stucky (center) is cleared to return to action, she will be Taylor Parks' biggest cheerleader.
Parks was in the O'Dome last Sept. 17 when Stucky, in front of a sold-out crowd, suffered her injury with the Gators – unbeaten, ranked No. 3 and already with three top-10 victories – had a two-game lead on No. 1 Wisconsin. That match, then the season went sideways from there.
Worth noting: UF was 8-0 with a healthy Stucky, 10-8 without her.
"She's going to make an amazing comeback," Parks said. "I can't wait to see her out there again."
In the interim, it's up to Parks to set the Gators right while they wait for their leader. That's a lot of responsibility for a freshman, but she welcomes it. Heck. In a way, by enrolling early, she asked for it.
Kind of like that little camper and her gutty request years ago.
"I love learning, I want to keep learning. I want to be the best teammate I can be," Parks said. "I'm getting to play with such great girls and not everybody gets to do that. I just want to have fun with them and let them do their thing and do my best to allow that to happen."
