Ella Vogel dives for the ball during an NCAA volleyball match at the Stephen C. OÕConnell Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Libby Clifton/ WRUF)

Florida Volleyball Exits AVCA Top 25 For First Time Since 1991

For the first time since 1991, when Mary Wise took over the program, Florida volleyball is not ranked in the AVCA Top 25.

Last week, the Gators ranked 23rd in the poll, earning a spot on the list for the 556th consecutive week. After a 1-1 weekend, Florida dropped out, receiving just 66 votes and missing by one spot to stay on the list.

Prior to the matches over the weekend, the Gators had their first 5-5 start since 1990. Despite starting the season ranked 16th and moving as high as 11th, the Gators are 7-6 to start the Ryan Theis era with a 2-2 record in SEC play.

“We had such a tough non-con9ference schedule) that every game’s been a battle no matter what,” Theis said. “There’s not going to be a lot of 3-0’s on our schedule with this league being this hard, that’s for sure.”

On Friday, Florida saw a win over the Auburn Tigers in its annual “Pack the Dome” match. In the four-set win, the Gators had one of their best performances of the year, recording 62 kills on 144 attacks and a 27% hitting percentage. Setter Alexis Stucky was the highlight, as she hit a triple-double with a career-high 10 kills, 12 digs and 42 assists. The redshirt junior gets bolder and more confident in the attack category as the season goes on.

“Offense, like me dumping, was not easy for me,” Stucky said. “It’s come a long way, so I’m really proud of that.”

However, Sunday’s five-set loss at unranked LSU was yet another setback for the Gators. After winning the first set and losing in a close second set, Florida stood no chance in the third, losing 25-14. The Gators took the fourth, but the fifth set was a wipeout 15-4 loss.

The Gators hit just 20% in the match, tallying 53 kills and committing 23 attack errors. Star outside hitter Jordyn Byrd hit only 13 kills for her third fewest of the season, while her counterpart Jurnee Robinson nailed a career-high 34 for LSU.

Despite coaches emphasizing it this season, serving continues to be a problem for Florida. The Gators had 11 service errors and three aces against Auburn and 10 service errors and one ace against LSU.

This will need to be cleaned up ahead of Florida’s return to the court Friday night at 7 p.m. against Missouri for the annual “Dig Pink” match.

Category: Gator Sports, Gators Volleyball, NCAA, SEC, Volleyball