After opening the volleyball season Sunday with a home win against Stony Brook, the No. 17 Gators begin play tonight in the inaugural SEC/Big Ten Challenge in Madison, Wisc. The 9 p.m. match on the Big Ten Network will be followed by Wednesday’s 8 p.m. match against the Badgers on Fox Sports 1.

WRUF’s volleyball beat team answered some of the biggest questions surrounding the season.

What is the biggest match for the Gators?

Jasmine Valcin & Taryn Friend: The biggest matches for the Gators will be when SEC play starts Sept. 27, and the biggest will be against Kentucky. The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the nation, winning the SEC tournament and losing in the NCAA tournament finals last season. One of Kentucky’s best players from last season’s playoff run, outside hitter Brooklyn Deleye, returns for her senior season. The First Team All-American is one of the best in the conference, making First Team All-SEC and is the Wildcats’ top offensive threat. 

However, last year, the Gators nearly beat the Wildcats, losing in five sets on the road. With the match at home this season, the outcome could be different. Overall, this match for Florida will be a wake-up call midseason for the team to gauge where it not only stands in the conference, but likely where it stands in the nation. 

Adam Norton: Being the highest-ranked regular-season opponent on the schedule, Texas will serve as the most difficult opponent for Florida. The Gators will have to compete against the Longhorns if they want to contend in the SEC. Additionally, the match comes two days after a match at defending national champion Texas A&M, so that stretch could tell us a lot about where Florida stands nationally.

What will be the biggest challenge for the team?

JV: The Gators’ struggles this season are going to come from finding a team groove. They lost two of their most impactful players offensively: setter Alexis Stucky and outside hitter Jaela Auguste. Stucky led the team in assists, accumulating more than 1,000, and was the team’s No. 1 player when it comes to setting up  teammates for kills. Auguste ranked second on the team in kills behind Jordyn Byrd.

However, the Gators also gained five new players: Logan King, Kamryn Chaney, Brianna Holladay, Selena Leban and Bri Denney. It’s an adjustment for any team adding five players, especially one which lost two key players its system was built around. The beginning of the season is going to be a chemistry test for the girls, figuring out lineups and who works with who.

TF: Serving and defense are something second-year coach Ryan Theis mentioned the Gators need to do well. Florida had five service errors in the exhibition loss to Nebraska last week, and it was only two to three points behind in the sets. Improving service errors could allow UF to close the gap in tight games. 

AN: The team’s biggest challenge will be finding consistency and players who will step up to fill some of the key roles left open from last season. The roster has eight newcomers, so there’s naturally going to be an adjustment period with getting everyone comfortable playing together.

What is the team’s biggest strength?

JV: Judging from preseason work, the team’s chemistry is one of the strengths. Already, in the exhibition match against Nebraska, fans got a glimpse at how well the team can work together. Third-year setter Taylor Parks helped lead the Gators with 17 assists and Lily Hayes powered the defense with six digs. King and Leban each made their first marks on the team, with King adding five digs to Florida’s 23 total and Leban striking five kills. While the challenge is there, the Gators seem to be finding their rhythm.

TF: I think this year’s roster has a strong advantage with height at the net and offensively. All of Florida’s middle blockers are 6-foot-3 or taller, giving the team a strong presence at the net and a big offensive advantage. Milica Vidacic, who recorded double-digits  kills 12 times last season and was named a part of the 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team, really gives this team a strong player to build around. 

AN: The Gators’ biggest strength is their offensive depth. Byrd is already an established producer with a team-high 425 kills last year, but Florida shouldn’t have to rely on her for everything this season. King, Leban and other newcomers also give Parks a lot of different options, while Alec Rothe gives UF an established threat through the middle. Byrd and Rothe were both preseason All-SEC selections.

Who is going to have a breakout season?

JV:  Selena Leban is going to have a breakout season. With the recent transfer losses of Kate Martin and Auguste, Florida was in need of outside hitters. Leban totaled five kills against Nebraska, which has one of the best middles in the nation in Andi Jackson. She has the potential to be a great second or third option, following Byrd and Aniya Madkin. 

Leban can also impact the defense, racking up 10 digs against then No. 8 Wisconsin as a freshman. Her ability to produce on offense and defense gives her an advantage, and her ability to maximize this production will make her valuable on the team. 

TF: I am going with Logan King, the transfer from Long Beach State. She had a strong performance against Nebraska, finishing with 20 kills and being the most consistent offensive player on the court. I think  King will have a strong first season with the Gators and be a great offensive threat in addition to established veterans Byrd and Makdin. 

AN: I think transfer Logan King is likely to be a breakout player for the Gators. She was a proven scorer on the right side at Long Beach State with 411 kills last season. Then against Nebraska, she led Florida with nine kills while hitting .350. King’s strong start is just the beginning of her offensive dominance.

What is a realistic ceiling for this team?

JV: With the offensive talent Florida has, an SEC title is realistic this season. The Gators’ biggest opponents will be Kentucky and Texas A&M. Defense will be key for a deep playoff run, so setters and the team will want to avoid giving teams free balls for UF to capitalize on. With the team’s shutout loss against Nebraska, it is hard to predict a national title or semifinal appearance this season.

TF: In Theis’ second season  this team is capable of making it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. The Gators made it to the second round last year before getting knocked out by SMU, but I think this team is offensively stronger and can surpass last year’s postseason run. Rothe and Byrd, both receiving Preseason All-Southeastern Conference recognition, can play an important role in leading this team. Byrd was a key player last year, leading the offense with the best team totals of 425 kills. Rothe was also a big contributor at the net, starting all of the 28 matches last season and leading the team with 111 blocks. 

AN: With Florida ranked preseason No. 17 and picked fourth in the SEC, I would not call them a national-title favorite right now. But the Gatos have enough established talent and upside that a Sweet 16 should be a legitimate expectation, with an Elite Eight run as a realistic ceiling if all the pieces come together.