Volleyball opens season just outside AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll top 10
Florida volleyball embarks upon its 2023 campaign ranked No. 11 according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Division I Top-25 Poll. The 11th edition of the respected rankings was released on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
The mention gives the Gators the third-longest consecutive top-25 ranking of all time, which now extends to 32 straight years and counting dating back to 1992. Only the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Stanford Cardinals have longer streaks, with the former’s still also currently active.
The Orange and Blue compiled a 25-6 overall and a 15-3 mark in the Southeastern Conference last season, earning a trip to its 32nd consecutive and 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance overall along with its 25th SEC title. Mary Wise’s team was ranked No. 12 in the final AVCA poll last season and was knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the semifinals by the Pitt Panthers.
Florida faces six ranked opponents this coming fall, including five opponents in the preseason top 15: No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers; No. 3 Stanford Cardinals; No. 7 Minnesota Gophers; No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions; No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats.
The Arkansas Razorbacks join Florida and Kentucky as the three SEC representatives in the top 25.
Florida opens its schedule at the Road 2 Tampa Bay Invitational against Penn State on Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. EDT at Amalie Arena, before taking on host South Florida on Aug. 26 in the Yuengling Center at 8 p.m. EDT — both venues in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area.
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