Florida debuts in the top-15 of the poll for the 29th consecutive year

Florida will open the fall portion of its 2020 schedule ranked fourth in the abridged version of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Top-15 poll, the AVCA announced on Wednesday.

With the No. 4 spot, the Gators run their streak to 29 consecutive years of ranking in the top-15 of the AVCA opening poll – the third longest streak in the nation (Nebraska, Stanford – both not participating in the fall).

During the 2019 season, UF went 27-5 overall and won a share of the SEC Championship with a 16-2 record in conference play. That SEC Championship was the team’s 24th overall – the third-best total among all SEC sports since volleyball’s inception in 1979.

Florida made its 30th NCAA Tournament – 29th consecutive trip – finishing the season with its 26th Regional Semifinal appearance.

Two Gators earned AVCA All-America honors in 2019 (Thayer Hall, Rachael Kramer), and three players earned SEC honors (Thayer Hall, Paige Hammons, Rachael Kramer). Kramer was also named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her final season.

To kick off the fall portion of the 2020 SEC schedule, the Gators travel to Auburn, Ala. to take on the Tigers on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22.

Florida begins the home portion of its campaign against Alabama, welcoming the Crimson Tide to Exactech Arena on Oct. 30 and 31.