The SEC portion of Florida's schedule is slated to begin on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Oklahoma. // Photo by Rachel Rusch | UAA Communications
Byrd and Rothe Earn Preseason All-SEC Nods, Gators Fourth in SEC Coaches’ Poll
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 | Volleyball
The Gators are one of three teams with multiple athletes on the Preseason All-SEC Team.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jordyn Byrd and Alec Rothe earned Preseason All-Southeastern Conference nods, while Florida volleyball was picked to finish fourth in the conference, the SEC announced in its 2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Byrd, a 2025 All-SEC Second Team honoree and a 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association Southeast Region First Team member, appeared in all 28 matches for the Gators in 2025. She led Florida's offense in 23 matches, recorded double-digit kills 25 times and posted team-best totals of 425 kills and 457.5 points throughout the season. Overall, she accounted for 30% of the Gators' offensive production in 2025.
Also earning Preseason All-SEC honors, Rothe joined Byrd as a member of the 2025 AVCA Southeast Region First Team. During her sophomore campaign, she started in all 28 matches while leading the team with 111.0 blocks, including leading the Gators in blocks in 16 matches. She recorded five or more blocks 10 times and averaged 2.48 points per set, 1.91 kills per set, 1.03 blocks per set and 0.39 digs per set. Rothe is one of two middle blockers featured on the Preseason All-SEC list.
As a team, the Gators were picked to finish fourth in the SEC, receiving 187 points in the coaches' poll. Kentucky was selected as the conference favorite with 218 points and nine first-place votes, while Texas was tabbed as the runner-up with 216 points and six first-place votes. Defending national champion Texas A&M was selected third, tallying 191 points and one first-place vote.
The Orange & Blue will open the regular season on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. ET when Stony Brook visits the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida is also primed to compete in the first Spikes Under the Lights event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Gators will open against Nebraska on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. Prior to Spikes Under the Lights, Florida will welcome back alumni for the Gator vs. Gator Greats match on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. ET.
2026 Preseason All-SEC Team
2026 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Kentucky - 218 (9)
2. Texas - 216 (6)
3. Texas A&M - 191 (1)
4. Florida - 187
5. Tennessee - 166
6. Georgia - 144
7. Auburn - 142
8. LSU - 116
9. Missouri - 111
10. Oklahoma - 95
10. Vanderbilt - 95
12. Ole Miss - 67
13. Mississippi State - 65
14. South Carolina - 45
15. Alabama - 37
16. Arkansas - 25
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Byrd, a 2025 All-SEC Second Team honoree and a 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association Southeast Region First Team member, appeared in all 28 matches for the Gators in 2025. She led Florida's offense in 23 matches, recorded double-digit kills 25 times and posted team-best totals of 425 kills and 457.5 points throughout the season. Overall, she accounted for 30% of the Gators' offensive production in 2025.
Also earning Preseason All-SEC honors, Rothe joined Byrd as a member of the 2025 AVCA Southeast Region First Team. During her sophomore campaign, she started in all 28 matches while leading the team with 111.0 blocks, including leading the Gators in blocks in 16 matches. She recorded five or more blocks 10 times and averaged 2.48 points per set, 1.91 kills per set, 1.03 blocks per set and 0.39 digs per set. Rothe is one of two middle blockers featured on the Preseason All-SEC list.
As a team, the Gators were picked to finish fourth in the SEC, receiving 187 points in the coaches' poll. Kentucky was selected as the conference favorite with 218 points and nine first-place votes, while Texas was tabbed as the runner-up with 216 points and six first-place votes. Defending national champion Texas A&M was selected third, tallying 191 points and one first-place vote.
The Orange & Blue will open the regular season on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. ET when Stony Brook visits the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida is also primed to compete in the first Spikes Under the Lights event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Gators will open against Nebraska on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. Prior to Spikes Under the Lights, Florida will welcome back alumni for the Gator vs. Gator Greats match on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. ET.
2026 Preseason All-SEC Team
| Name, School | Pos. | Ht. | Yr. | Hometown |
| Lauren Dreves, Auburn | OH | 6-1 | Jr. | Vancouver, Wash. |
| Jordyn Byrd | OH | 6-4 | R-Jr. | Sarasota, Fla. |
| Alec Rothe | MB | 6-3 | Jr. | Dublin, Ohio |
| Brianna Muoneke, Georgia | OH | 6-0 | Sr. | Cypress, Texas |
| Lizzie Carr, Kentucky | MB | 6-6 | R-Sr. | West Chester, Pa. |
| Brooklyn DeLeye, Kentucky | OH | 6-2 | Sr. | Topeka, Kan. |
| Morgan Gaerte, Kentucky | OH | 6-3 | Jr. | Angola, Ind. |
| Kassie O'Brien, Kentucky | S | 6-1 | Sr. | Katy, Texas |
| Molly Tuozzo, Kentucky | L | 5-7 | Sr. | The Woodlands, Texas |
| Jurnee Robinson, LSU | OH | 6-1 | Sr. | Simpsonville, S.C. |
| Lindsey Mangelson, Miss. State | OH | 6-2 | So. | Fishers, Ind. |
| Caroline Kerr, Tennessee | S | 5-11 | R-Sr. | Champaign, Ill. |
| Cari Spears, Texas | OH | 6-3 | So. | Frisco, Texas |
| Torrey Stafford, Texas | OH | 6-2 | Sr. | Torrance, Calif. |
| Kyndal Stowers, Texas A&M | OH | 5-11 | Jr. | Denton, Texas |
2026 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Kentucky - 218 (9)
2. Texas - 216 (6)
3. Texas A&M - 191 (1)
4. Florida - 187
5. Tennessee - 166
6. Georgia - 144
7. Auburn - 142
8. LSU - 116
9. Missouri - 111
10. Oklahoma - 95
10. Vanderbilt - 95
12. Ole Miss - 67
13. Mississippi State - 65
14. South Carolina - 45
15. Alabama - 37
16. Arkansas - 25
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