How Third-ranked Florida volleyball can take down top-ranked Wisconsin on Sunday

Mary Wise understands what’s at stake. AC Fitzpatrick understands what’s at stake.

What is that opportunity that lies ahead?

A chance to show the collegiate volleyball community that the Gators rank as this season’s team to beat.

No. 3 Florida’s shot to accomplish that comes this Sunday at 3 p.m. when top-ranked Wisconsin (8-0) comes to the O’Connell Center.

Here is what you need to know about Florida’s (8-0) volleyball season so far:

Who has Florida beaten so far?

With 26 SEC titles in coach Mary Wise’s 33 years at the helm, any Florida fan and college volleyball aficionado knows about the Gators prowess on the court.

But this season’s squad distinguished itself with three wins over top 10 foes in its first four games.

The Gators defeated No. 8 Penn State on August 25, No. 2 Stanford on August 29 and No. 5 Minnesota on September 3. The victories over the Nittany Lions and Cardinal came away from Gainesville, and all three wins transpired in four sets or less.

The dubs catapulted Florida from No. 11 nationally to No. 2.

Wise said the difficult strength of schedule separated this team from past ones.

“I can’t imagine why somebody would put that schedule together…oh right that was me,” Wise said. “It created some momentum with the confidence building because of the resiliency this group has shown.”

Wise hopes the slate prepares UF for the gauntlet it faces once SEC play begins next Friday. Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky currently all rank in the top 25.

There’s been some bumps in the road for the Gators, though. Three of their eight wins needed five sets – USF, Sacramento State and Florida State.

Fitzpatrick said the comebacks, two of which saw UF down 2-1, proves the group’s fight.

“It shows we can handle so much adversity and be able to use that as momentum,” she said. “In that gym the other day (at FSU) it was so loud. We could barely hear Mary talk.”

Florida’s 8-0 start is its best since 2017, which was the last time it advanced to the national championship game.

Who is leading the team?

Florida’s roster this year includes a solid mix of young and old. In fact, the stat leaders in kills (Kennedy Martin), assists (Alexis Stucky), service aces (Trinity Adams) and digs (Elli McKissock) are freshman, sophomore, junior and seniors respectively.

Martin’s arrival sparked the team. The 6-foot-7 freshman came to Florida as a 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American from South Carolina and the nation’s No. 18 recruit.

In eight games, Martin has amassed 142 kills, more than double the No. 2 finisher Fitzpatrick. Wise noted she expected Martin’s skills from the back row would improve at the college level, but not this early.

Fitzpatrick added Martin’s height helped Florida prepare in practice for Wisconsin’s Anna Smrek, who is 6-foot-9.

Outside of those four, Wise praised Fitzpatrick and senior Anna Dixon. With 68 kills thus far, Fitzpatrick is on pace for the most in her career.

“She’s embracing all the different shots that score, and she has to because she’s considered an undersized outside hitter,” Wise said. “It’s been a pleasure to see her game come together.”

Dixon, a graduate student transfer from Mizzou, switched positions for UF from outside hitter to middle blocker. Wise said Dixon’s idea to change positions ranks as one of the most selfless things she’s seen her years coaching.

“It’s a position she hasn’t played since seventh grade, and it’s a very difficult transition,” Wise said. “You just don’t see this in volleyball. I hope her story will be told for college athletes in any sport.”

Keys to dethroning the Badgers

Wise emphasized that the Badgers sized and experience should pose challenges.

“Wisconsin is going to hit over us, and there’ll be times where it’s just going to take a group effort and hopefully, we can keep the ball from hitting the floor,” she said.

Fitzpatrick expects UW to come out aggressive since Florida upset it last season in Madison in five sets.

“They’re going to give us their everything,” she said. “Every team that plays the Florida Gators will give their all. Florida State went balls to the wall.”

Wise also knows her team’s energy level will be high with the match on ESPN and the first top three matchup at the O’Connell Center in 20 years.

“What a great opportunity for our players that years from now, they can say they played in this match,” Wise said. “What we learn from Sunday will help us the rest of the season.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida volleyball hosts top-ranked Wisconsin. What to know beforehand