As the dust from a Selection Sunday frenzy settles, we have a chance to peer at some trends in the bracket before the DI women’s volleyball tournament begins on Thursday. Here are some tidbits to note as the first round looms near:
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1. How Florida snuck into the top 16
Starting the season 8-0 and landing as high as No. 3 in the AVCA poll, the Gators finished the season 18-9, clocking in at No. 20 in the latest AVCA rankings. The loss of star setter Alexis Stucky to a knee injury in early September began Florida’s downward spiral, followed by Anna Dixon’s season-ending elbow and wrist injuries in early October. Short these two starters, the Gators have scrapped through the bottom half of their schedule with almost an even record of 10 wins and nine losses. However, a majority of their losses were to ranked challengers, and Florida still has four ranked wins on its resume — two top-5 wins at that.
Equipped with one of the best young hitters in the nation in All-SEC team honoree Kennedy Martin, who ranks 7th in the nation in K/S, and Elli McKissock taking care of the backcourt, UF has enough weapons to still make a name for itself in this year’s tournament. As the last team in…
