Coach Ryan Theis guided the Gators to their first defeat of SEC power Kentucky since 2022 late Sunday night.
What a Weekend for Volleyball
Monday, October 5, 2026 | Volleyball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In matter of about 50 hours over the weekend, Ryan Theis saw the best intangible trait of his Florida volleyball squad rear itself in two completely different circumstances, both times against highly ranked opponents and in front adoring, deafening audiences.
On Friday, the seventh-ranked Gators went back-and-forth against 11th-ranked Tennessee, trailing early in the first two sets and late in the third, but each time making the blocks, sets and swings down the stretch for a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-18, 25-23) that set the table for a weekend unlike any other for this program in recent years.
Fast forward to Sunday night and a house call from third-ranked nemesis Kentucky, with its nine consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season championships and victories over UF in five consecutive matches. ESPN wanted the game, but with an 8:30 p.m. start up against the NFL and MLB playoffs, which was a tough ask not just for the two teams, but the fans on a Sunday night.
"We thought there might be 108 people here, with the band bringing a hundred," Theis said.
But Gator Nation showed up (more than 5,000 strong) and the Gators showed out, storming back from an opening-set loss for an emotionally charged and thrilling 3-2 victory (22-25, 29-27, 25-21, 21-25, 15-8) over the league's standard bearer, a result that should be reflected when this week's polls are released Monday. Kentucky came in riding a 29-game winning streak in conference play.
UF (12-1, 3-0) has won 10 straight and, for now, sits alone atop the SEC standings, albeit with a lot of volleyball to play.
Theis was asked what he learned about his team. His answer was an orange-and-blue gem.
"We don't back down," he said.
Much has been made (Saturday's trip to Missouri aside) about the feel and energy around the football program under first-team UF coach Jon Sumrall. Well, Theis is in his second season after taking over a once-dominant volleyball franchise that not only had been overtaken by Kentucky the past decade, but has been spinning its wheels as a first weekend NCAA Tournament team.
The Gators were just that in 2025, the first under Theis following the retirement of icon Mary Wise. His second team – with 12 returnees and eight newcomers, including a quartet of high-impact transfers – looks different. The Gators have won 10 straight, with four victories over ranked opponents, and is off to the program's best start since 2017.
Oh, and there's also that first defeat of UK since 2022 (just the second in the last nine meetings).
"We knew it was going to be a fight, but we knew we were going to stick together the whole time," junior setter Taylor Parks said. "We weren't going to let them out-grit us. They were going to get their big swings and big kills, they're very physical players. They're going to hit over our blocks sometimes, but we roll the ball back and say, 'Do it again,' and let our side-out show that we can score like that, too."
Before the match, ESPN cameras were invited inside the Kentucky locker room, where Wildcats coach Craig Skinner told his team, "I'm assuming you guys know this [but] it's October 4th. Between August 15th and November 1st, it's gator hunting season in the state of Florida."
His team loved it. Little did the Wildcats know that they'd be the hunted.
This Gator group is different than recent past teams, starting with chemistry and competitiveness.
"Every person shows up for their max intensity and max intentionality every practice, every game," Parks said. "We're so much more well-rounded. We have so many good athletes and ball-control players on the court. You can't pick who you're going to stop. Take a step toward one, someone else will beat you. We have someone on every part of the net who can score. The reason that is so good is that our passing is amazing. In our system, everyone is an option."
After Friday, when opposite Logan King, the transfer from Long Beach State, rang up a season-high 15 kills in just three games, maybe she was the top mark on the UK scout. Against the Wildcats, it was Vanderbilt transfer outside hitter Kamryn Chaney matching her season high with 22 kills. King had a career-high seven blocks, outside hitter Selena Leban had a career-high 21 digs, while Parks was her usual playmaking self with 43 assists, six kills and a red-hot serve when it mattered most.
The Wildcats, led by All-American Brookyn DeLeye and AVCA National Player of the Year candidate Morgan Gaerte, used five consecutive points in the middle of the first game to take a 1-0 lead. The Gators responded with wins in the second and third sets, with UK in control for most of the fourth to set up the decisive fifth. UF fell behind early until Parks, with that super serve, stepped to the line and held for six consecutive points, setting the table for a big finish, with kill queen Chaney icing the match on a set from Parks.
"We did a really good job of focusing on our side, staying organized and, honestly, if they make a great kill, we're going to make a great kill. We're going to make a great point," Chaney said. "And we didn't let a lot of points get away from us. Honestly, we didn't get in a drought. We kept the energy up. And the fans were amazing."
Yes, they were, and the players showed their appreciation by taking a post-game conga line into the Rowdy Reptiles section for an impromptu thank-you for what was a very "Swamp-like" crowd.
Playing off the football cues, not only did the Gators not back down, they "worked the cut," Theis said.
"We talked about that all week, too," he said. "These guys are tough like that. They've not quit in a single set or match this year. Even when we were down 5-1 in the fifth against [No. 5] Wisconsin, we tied it at 13. That was on the road back-to-back days. These guys are fighters."
Now, they'll take the fight on the road.
As much as Theis learned about his team this weekend, the team will find out so much more over the next two, as the Gators play four straight away matches from home: at Missouri and Vanderbilt this week, followed by a brutal Lone Star State trek next week, with matches at No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 8 Texas.
"We certainly haven't proven anything. We're three matches in," Theis said. "This is a grind. It's a great start, but we got a long way to go."
Yet, it would appear the program is getting much closer to where he wants it to be; as in where it once was.
"It's the hope," Theis said. "I'm thrilled we're moving there."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.
On Friday, the seventh-ranked Gators went back-and-forth against 11th-ranked Tennessee, trailing early in the first two sets and late in the third, but each time making the blocks, sets and swings down the stretch for a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-18, 25-23) that set the table for a weekend unlike any other for this program in recent years.
Fast forward to Sunday night and a house call from third-ranked nemesis Kentucky, with its nine consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season championships and victories over UF in five consecutive matches. ESPN wanted the game, but with an 8:30 p.m. start up against the NFL and MLB playoffs, which was a tough ask not just for the two teams, but the fans on a Sunday night.
"We thought there might be 108 people here, with the band bringing a hundred," Theis said.
But Gator Nation showed up (more than 5,000 strong) and the Gators showed out, storming back from an opening-set loss for an emotionally charged and thrilling 3-2 victory (22-25, 29-27, 25-21, 21-25, 15-8) over the league's standard bearer, a result that should be reflected when this week's polls are released Monday. Kentucky came in riding a 29-game winning streak in conference play.
UF (12-1, 3-0) has won 10 straight and, for now, sits alone atop the SEC standings, albeit with a lot of volleyball to play.
Theis was asked what he learned about his team. His answer was an orange-and-blue gem.
"We don't back down," he said.
FLORIDA WINS THE FIVE-SET THRILLER 🐊 No. 7 @GatorsVB takes down No. 3 Kentucky in five sets! #NCAAWVB https://t.co/TWaWyRPVxX
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 5, 2026
Much has been made (Saturday's trip to Missouri aside) about the feel and energy around the football program under first-team UF coach Jon Sumrall. Well, Theis is in his second season after taking over a once-dominant volleyball franchise that not only had been overtaken by Kentucky the past decade, but has been spinning its wheels as a first weekend NCAA Tournament team.
The Gators were just that in 2025, the first under Theis following the retirement of icon Mary Wise. His second team – with 12 returnees and eight newcomers, including a quartet of high-impact transfers – looks different. The Gators have won 10 straight, with four victories over ranked opponents, and is off to the program's best start since 2017.
Oh, and there's also that first defeat of UK since 2022 (just the second in the last nine meetings).
"We knew it was going to be a fight, but we knew we were going to stick together the whole time," junior setter Taylor Parks said. "We weren't going to let them out-grit us. They were going to get their big swings and big kills, they're very physical players. They're going to hit over our blocks sometimes, but we roll the ball back and say, 'Do it again,' and let our side-out show that we can score like that, too."
Before the match, ESPN cameras were invited inside the Kentucky locker room, where Wildcats coach Craig Skinner told his team, "I'm assuming you guys know this [but] it's October 4th. Between August 15th and November 1st, it's gator hunting season in the state of Florida."
His team loved it. Little did the Wildcats know that they'd be the hunted.
This Gator group is different than recent past teams, starting with chemistry and competitiveness.
"Every person shows up for their max intensity and max intentionality every practice, every game," Parks said. "We're so much more well-rounded. We have so many good athletes and ball-control players on the court. You can't pick who you're going to stop. Take a step toward one, someone else will beat you. We have someone on every part of the net who can score. The reason that is so good is that our passing is amazing. In our system, everyone is an option."
After Friday, when opposite Logan King, the transfer from Long Beach State, rang up a season-high 15 kills in just three games, maybe she was the top mark on the UK scout. Against the Wildcats, it was Vanderbilt transfer outside hitter Kamryn Chaney matching her season high with 22 kills. King had a career-high seven blocks, outside hitter Selena Leban had a career-high 21 digs, while Parks was her usual playmaking self with 43 assists, six kills and a red-hot serve when it mattered most.
The Wildcats, led by All-American Brookyn DeLeye and AVCA National Player of the Year candidate Morgan Gaerte, used five consecutive points in the middle of the first game to take a 1-0 lead. The Gators responded with wins in the second and third sets, with UK in control for most of the fourth to set up the decisive fifth. UF fell behind early until Parks, with that super serve, stepped to the line and held for six consecutive points, setting the table for a big finish, with kill queen Chaney icing the match on a set from Parks.
"We did a really good job of focusing on our side, staying organized and, honestly, if they make a great kill, we're going to make a great kill. We're going to make a great point," Chaney said. "And we didn't let a lot of points get away from us. Honestly, we didn't get in a drought. We kept the energy up. And the fans were amazing."
Yes, they were, and the players showed their appreciation by taking a post-game conga line into the Rowdy Reptiles section for an impromptu thank-you for what was a very "Swamp-like" crowd.
can't have a party without Tom Petty 🎵 https://t.co/yBPmBxnmvI
— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) October 5, 2026
Playing off the football cues, not only did the Gators not back down, they "worked the cut," Theis said.
"We talked about that all week, too," he said. "These guys are tough like that. They've not quit in a single set or match this year. Even when we were down 5-1 in the fifth against [No. 5] Wisconsin, we tied it at 13. That was on the road back-to-back days. These guys are fighters."
Now, they'll take the fight on the road.
As much as Theis learned about his team this weekend, the team will find out so much more over the next two, as the Gators play four straight away matches from home: at Missouri and Vanderbilt this week, followed by a brutal Lone Star State trek next week, with matches at No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 8 Texas.
"We certainly haven't proven anything. We're three matches in," Theis said. "This is a grind. It's a great start, but we got a long way to go."
Yet, it would appear the program is getting much closer to where he wants it to be; as in where it once was.
"It's the hope," Theis said. "I'm thrilled we're moving there."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.
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