4 notable takeaways from the 2023 DI women’s volleyball tournament field

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 the top 16, it hosts first and second-round matchups in Gainesville.

Happy to be home!!

See you in the O’Dome this Thursday 😎#GoGators pic.twitter.com/SxipjxiZ8d

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) November 27, 2023

2. 2022’s reigning champion and runner-up are 2-seeds

That would be Texas and Louisville, both checking in at No. 2 slots for the 2023 tournament. These teams entered the 2022 tournament as 1-seeds and went on to compete in last year’s national championship — Texas swept Louisville for the title.

This year, however, the Longhorns lost their preseason No. 1 status within the first week of competition, and have been jawing to find a place in the top 5 ever since. Texas recently won the Big 12 championship outright and finished the regular season at 22-4, sliding in at No. 5 in the latest AVCA poll. Franchise player Asjia O’Neal is putting up her best numbers yet with 129.0 total blocks — her 566 career blocks set a school record — and ranking third on her team with 144 kills. The first-round matchup between O’Neal and Texas A&M’s Ifenna Cos-Okpalla will be an all-out block showcase, and Texas will need to prove, again, that it’s worthy of a top designation in…