Florida Volleyball Announces ‘Gators vs. Gator Greats’ Alumni Event
The first “Gators vs. Gator Greats” event will take place on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, with nine alumni returning to take on the current team.
Rhamat Alhassan, Emily Canaan, Anna Dixon, AC Fitzpatrick, Rachael Kramer, Isabel Martin, Elli McKissock, Marli Monserez and Kennedy Muff will be the nine Gator Greats taking the court, with Jenny Manz Theis, wife of UF coach Ryan Theis, acting as their coach.
“The Gators vs. Gator Greats match is an exciting and important event for our program,” head coach Ryan Theis said. “Not only does it give our current team the opportunity to compete against professionals, it gives us a chance to welcome back alumni who make our program so special. We can’t wait to have our alums back in Gainesville playing high-level volleyball together, and we hope to make this special event a yearly tradition.”
Alhassan played middle blocker for the Gators from 2014-2017, named an AVCA All-American every year at Florida and the 2017 SEC Player of the Year. The middle blocker was also the first Gator to win the Honda Sport Award for Volleyball during the 2017 season. The Grand Rapids Rise player finished her career as Florida’s all-time leader in total blocks (674) and block assists (584), while totaling 1,278 kills and 90 solo blocks.
Returning after graduating last season, Canaan was a defensive specialist for the Gators from 2022-2025. The three-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient and Allen, Texas, native appeared in all 28 games as a senior with 15 starts in 2025. In 2024, Canaan became the first Gator since 2018 to serve 10 or more consecutive points after going on a 13-0 service run in the second set and dropping five aces in a 3-0 win over Buffalo.
A former Gators outside hitter and middle blocker, Dixon made her way to Gainesville as a graduate student for the 2023 season. The Louisburg, Kansas, native was named to the 2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 28, 2023. Dixon currently plays for the Columbus Fury in Major League Volleyball.
Fitzpatrick, a two-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient, was an outside hitter for the Gators from 2022-2024. As a fifth-year senior, the Ocala native started in 17 and played 27 of 31 matches, while seeing action in 99 of 117 sets and leading the Gators offensively three times. The outside hitter now plays abroad for MAV Elore Foxconn in Hungary.
Kramer was a middle blocker for the Gators from 2016-2019. She made the All-SEC team in 2017, 2018 and 2019 after being named to the 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team. The Phoenix native finished her career ranked fifth overall in program history with a .409 hitting percentage and 464 blocks and fourth in the record books in block assists with 414. The Gator alumna plays for the USA Beach Volleyball team.
A 2024 AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention, Martin came to Gainesville for her lone season in 2024. As a redshirt senior, the German outside hitter started in all 31 matches and played all 117 sets. She finished with double-digit kills 16 times and led Florida seven times in aces, five times in kills, five times in points, three times in blocking and once in digs. The outside hitter continues her career playing for League One Volleyball.
McKissock played libero for the Gators from 2020-2024, being named to the 2024 SEC All-Second Team and the 2020 SEC All-Freshman Team. The Windermere native holds the program record for career digs (2,147) and career sets played (534). She also ranks second for career matches played (146), third for career digs per set (4.02), eighth for career aces (144) and is tied for fourth for the most digs in an individual match (31). The libero is back playing for the Orlando Valkyries after starting her professional career there in 2025 before heading to Atlanta for one season.
Monserez, a 2021 AVCA Second Team All-American, was the setter for the Gators from 2018-2021. Also from Windermere, Monserez was a five-time SEC Setter of the Week and a two-time SEC Player of the Week. As a senior in 2021, she started all 31 matches, finishing second in the SEC and 11th nationally in assists per set. Like McKissock, the setter plays for the Orlando Valkyries.
Muff was a setter for the Gators for her lone season with the team in 2023, earning 2023-24 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll during her time in Gainesville. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native appeared in 23 matches and 83 sets, starting for the first time against No. 24 Auburn on Sept. 22, replacing Alexis Stucky following her season-ending injury. The setter led the Gators 21 times in assists and three times in service aces in 2023.
The event is free, and the first 500 people will get an autograph book, which they can use after the match to have it signed by current and alumni Gator athletes.
Other Gator legends are expected to make surprise appearances.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Volleyball
