The Florida Gators women's volleyball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of volleyball. The Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators play their home matches in the O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Mary Wise.
History
The University of Florida's athletic department, the University Athletic Association, authorized the first intercollegiate varsity women's volleyball team to begin play in the fall of 1984. Marilyn McReavy was the Gators' first head coach, and she led the Gators volleyball team for seven seasons from 1984 to 1990. McReavy's Gators compiled an overall win-loss record of 156â€"100 (.609), and an Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 26â€"20 (.565). Her best SEC finish was second place in 1988, and her 1987 team was the only one that qualified for the NCAA tournament. McReavy resigned after a 15â€"16 performance in 1990.
Coach Mary Wise was hired to replace Marilyn McReavy in 1991. In their first year under Wise, the Gators won the SEC regular season championship, sharing it with the LSU Tigers volleyball team.
In 1992, Florida made its first ever NCAA Final Four appearance, where they lost in the semifinals to eventual national runner-up UCLA 15â€"12, 15â€"12, 15â€"10.
In 1993, Wise became the first Division I female head coach to guide her team to more than one final four. In 1996, the Gators made their trip to their third final four in five years, losing to Hawaiʻi in the semifinals. Wise was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I National Coach of the Year.
In 1997, the Gators appeared in the final four once again, being swept by Penn State in the semifinals. The roster consisted of a young squad, only have three seniors on the team.
The Gators made their third consecutive final four in 1998, where they again lost in the semifinals, to eventual national champion and undefeated Long Beach State, 15â€"2, 15â€"8, 15â€"10.
In 2002, Florida made their first final four appearance since 1998, defeating Temple in the Sweet 16 and Penn State in the Elite Eight, before falling to eventual national champion Southern California in the semifinals.
After being 0-for-6 in previous NCAA Final Four semifinals, Florida broke through in 2003, by defeating Hawaii in the semis, 30â€"28, 30â€"28, 23â€"30, 30â€"28. Appearing in their first NCAA title match in school history, the Gators lost to undefeated Southern California in four sets, 25â€"30, 30â€"27, 30â€"19, 30â€"26. Wise became the first Division I female coach to coach in a championship match. In addition, Florida set a then-NCAA record of 105 straight games won during the 2003 season.
Year-by-year results
Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference Players of the Year
Florida has 12 players selected SEC player of the year for a total of 18 awards.
Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year
Florida has 5 recipients of the Freshman of the Year award.
Southeastern Conference Libero of the Year
Florida has 1 recipient of the Libero of the Year award. The award for Libero of the Year began in 2009.
Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year
Florida has 1 recipient of the Coach of the Year award for a total of 11 awards.
Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year
Florida has 3 recipients of the Scholar Athlete of the Year award. The award for Scholar Athlete of the Year began in 2003
Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Florida has 1 recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award. The award for Defensive Player of the Year began in 2003 and ended in 2008
American Volleyball Coaches Association
All-Americans
Florida has 28 AVCA All-America selections, 10th all-time in NCAA Division I, and 12 First Team selections, tied for 10th all-time.
National awards
Major awards
- Mary Wise, National Coach of the Year: 1992, 1996
- Kelly Murphy, National Freshman of the Year: 2008
Player of the Week
Nine players have earned twelve AVCA Division I National Player of the Week award:
- Aycan Gokberk (Sept. 11, 1995 and Oct. 30, 1995)
- Nina Foster (Sept. 1, 1997)
- Jenny Manz (Sept. 7, 1998)
- Heather Wright (Nov. 23, 1998)
- Nicole McCray (Sept. 4, 2000)
- Elyse Cusack (Nov. 6, 2006)
- Kelly Murphy (Sept. 30, 2008; Aug. 21, 2010; and Sept. 20 2011)
- Kristy Jaeckel (Oct. 4, 2011)
- Rhamat Alhassan (Sept. 16, 2014)
See also
- Florida Gators
- History of the University of Florida
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
- List of University of Florida Olympians
- University Athletic Association
- List of NCAA Division I women's volleyball programs
References
External links
- Official website