Harry Fodder: ‘Watch how they celebrate’

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mary Wise has heard her players speak to how tight this so-far remarkable 2023 Florida volleyball team has become. The chemistry, the closeness, the love and respect for one another is genuine. In her 37 years of coaching, the last 33 with the Gators, she’s had teams boast about their bond on and off court. Wise, though, quantifies this squad’s harmony differently.
 
“I truly believe that anything you need to know about this team is seen in their celebrations,” Wise said. “Watch how they celebrate, how they reconnect, make eye contact. The support they show for one another whether on the court or not, that is real. That is authentic.”  

Those observations were articulated Sunday afternoon on the floor of Exactech Arena, moments after eighth-ranked Florida waxed fifth-ranked Minnesota 3-0 before an energetic crowd that watched the Gators dismantle a third top-10 opponent of this young season. Not only is UF unbeaten through four matches, but has sweeps against a pair of top-five teams in the same week for the first time in program history. The Gators have defeated No. 8 Penn State on a neutral court in Tampa, No. 2 Stanford on the road and the No. 5 Golden Gophers in the home opener. That’s dominance no matter the venue.

 

Next up for Florida (4-0) is this week’s Gators Invitational, set for Thursday-through-Saturday, with Sacramento State, Clemson and Winthrop making up the field). Then comes a trip next week to rival Florida State, followed by – mark it down – a Sept. 17 home date against No. 1-ranked Wisconsin. The Gators figure to be plenty battle-tested when the Southeastern Conference season begins Sept. 22 at Auburn. 

 

Plenty closer, too. 

 

“We had good chemistry last year, but this year it’s just more powerful, more impactful with our game, and more consistent,” senior outside hitter Sofia Victoria said. “We’re all on the same wave length and our energy as a team is insane.”

Sort of like the Gators’ passing and defense, which has been its collective strength to date, and has paired splendidly with their 29-percent kill ratio amassed against some of the best teams in the country. Not even a week into September, there’s so much room to grow. 
 
Take last week’s match at Stanford. UF was significantly out-hit in Games 2 and 3, with the Cardinal at 41.5 percent and 40.6…