GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida volleyball team is slated to compete against North Carolina on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in ESPN’s SEC vs. ACC “Showdown at the Net” Challenge. The matchup will take place at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C. and will be streamed on ACCN, with match time being announced at a later date.

 “We are excited to have the Southeastern Conference participate in the first edition of ‘Showdown at the Net’,” said Misty Brown, SEC Assistant Commissioner. “We look forward to seeing some high-caliber volleyball as the storied programs from the SEC prepare to build upon their recent successes during the 2025 season.” 

The Gators hold an 12-1 overall record against the Tar Heels, last meeting in Bayamón, Puerto Rico for the 2017 SEC vs. ACC Challenge where Florida’s defense held then No. 16 North Carolina to a .109 hitting percentage en route to 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 sweep.

The two-day tournament will begin on Tuesday, September 9 with four linear matchups and four more on digital platforms: Stanford at Missouri (ESPN), Texas A&M at SMU (ESPN2), Georgia Tech at Tennessee (SECN), Florida at North Carolina (ACCN), Georgia at Clemson (ACCNX), Virginia at Auburn (SECN+), LSU at Notre Dame (ACCNX) and Boston College at Arkansas (SECN+).

The cross-conference challenge continues on Wednesday, September 10 with eight additional matches, including the inaugural Shriners Children’s “Showdown at the Net.” The four-team showcase will feature Kentucky vs. Pitt and Texas vs. Louisville at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Both matches will air on ESPN, with start times to be announced at a later date.

The matchup is Florida’s third 2025 nonconference match to be officially announced. The Gators, under the direction of first-year head coach Ryan Theis, are slated to compete against Stanford on Friday, Aug. 22 and Pitt on Sunday, Aug. 24 in the AVCA First Serve in Lincoln, NE.

 “Showdown at the Net” Schedule

Tuesday, September 9

Boston College at Arkansas	SECN+
Virginia at Auburn	SECN+
Florida at North Carolina	ACCN
Georgia at Clemson	ACCNX
LSU at Notre Dame	ACCNX
Stanford at Missouri	ESPN
Georgia Tech at Tennessee	SECN
Texas A&M at SMU	ESPN2

 
Wednesday, September 10

Wake Forest at Alabama	SECN+
Kentucky vs. Pitt (at Dickies Arena)	ESPN
Ole Miss at Miami	ACCNX
Duke at Mississippi State	SECN+
Florida State at Oklahoma	SECN
South Carolina at NC State	ACCN
Louisville vs. Texas (at Dickies Arena)	ESPN
Vanderbilt at Cal	ACCNX

 

It’s going down in Chapel Hill 🙌

We’re headed to North Carolina for Showdown at the Net on Sept. 9!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/DU3g3QeZlw

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) May 22, 2025

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