Florida Volleyball Descends Rankings for First Time This Season

Florida volleyball’s AVCA ranking fell for the first time this season Monday, descending from No. 5 to No. 7 after losing to unranked Vanderbilt in Nashville on Sunday. 

Florida (4-1 SEC) and Vanderbilt (3-2) ended the weekend 13-2 overall. The Commodores earned a No. 24 spot in the newest rankings.

Florida also dropped in conference standings from No. 1to No. 2 behind Kentucky despite its win over the Wildcats the previous weekend.

The Commodores defeated the Gators 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16) to terminate Florida’s 11-match winning streak. Florida’s only other loss belongs to now-No. 6 Wisconsin. 

Vanderbilt claimed its first top five win and only the second ranked win in program history.

Florida’s offense failed to puncture Vanderbilt’s defense. Taylor Parks, Florida’s setter, led the team offensively with 11 kills, a career best. She had 30 assists to tally five double-doubles this season. Parks rounded out her performance with two blocks. 

Florida swept unranked Missouri 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-13) last Friday. 

The Gators still have 10 matches left in conference play before the SEC tournament Nov. 20-24 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia. 

Florida now travels to College Station, Texas, to play No. 19 Texas A&M (10-7, 3-2) at 7 p.m. ET Friday (SEC Network) and follow with a visit to No. 12 Texas in Austin at 8:30 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN).

Category: Gators Volleyball, NCAA, Volleyball