No. 16 Gators Sweep Norfolk State in Home Opener

Last Updated: August 31, 2025By

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 16 Florida volleyball (2-1, 0-0 SEC) opened its 2025 home slate with a sweep (25-18, 25-13, 25-12) over Norfolk State (0-4, 0-0 MEAC) on Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

The Gators notched their first win in the all-time series against the Spartans, while improving to 35-6 in home openers, including a 30-2 record in three-set matches.

The Gators controlled the match from start to finish, with every eligible player contributing to the stats sheet. Florida’s balanced offensive attached registered a .414 hitting clip, with eight players registering one or more kill. Outside hitter Jordyn Byrd paced the offense with a match-high 12 kills and was only player on either side to reach double-digits. Middle blocker Alec Rothe turned in a career-best .636 hitting clip with seven kills and no errors.

Middle blocker Jaela Auguste and outside hitter Aniya Madkin each added six, while opposite Milica Vidacic chipping in five and outside hitters Kira Hutson and Lauren Harden added three apiece to Florida’s 87 total kills.   

Setter Alexis Stucky directed the offensive attack with 34 assists and contributed across the board with four digs, three kills, two blocks and a season-high two aces. Libero Lily Hayes pitched in four assists herself and led the backrow with a team-high 13 digs.

In the backcourt, eight additional players made their mark in the stat sheet, with defensive specialists Emily Canaan and Ella Vogel tallying four digs and Bella Lee adding one of her own. Auguste (2), Hutson (5), Stucky (4) and Rothe (1) combined for 12 of Florida’s 36 team digs, while sophomore Taylor Parks notched two digs to go along with her four assists.

At the net, Florida held Norfolk State to a .103 hitting clip, out blocking the Spartans 4.0.-3.0.. Auguste, Stucky and Rothe each finished with two blocks, while Byrd and Hutson adding one apiece.   

Behind the service line, the Gators tied their season-high eight aces, spread across six different players. Stucky and Vogel each dropped two, while Auguste, Canaan, Hutson and Parks all chipped in one.  

Records: 
No. 16 Florida (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Norfolk State (0-4, 0-0 MEAC)
 
Series record:
1-0 (1-0 under Theis)
3-set: 1-0 | 4-set: 0-0 | 5-set: 0-0
Home: 1-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-0
 
How It Happened
Set 1

  • After a slow start, Florida settled in behind back-to-back kills from Stucky and Byrd to gain a 12-9 lead and force a Norfolk State timeout. Out of the huddle, the Spartans inched within one, but Florida’s balanced attack maintained allowed for a 21-18 advantage heading into the closing stretch of set one. The Gators capitalized off of two-straight attacking errors from Norfolk State and a block from Byrd and Auguste made it set-point Florida before an ace from Parks closed out the 25-18 win.

  • Set 1 Team Stats | .175 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 13 Assists | 20 Digs |3.0 Blocks | 3 Aces

  • Norfolk State | .235 Hitting %|8 Kills |8 Assists | 13 Digs | 3.0 Blocks | 1 Ace

Set 2

  • Following a successful challenge from Coach Theis, the Gators went on a five-point scoring run to grab an early 7-1 lead. Auguste and Stucky dropped aces, while the redshirt junior kept the offense balanced with kills from Rothe and Vidacic, but Norfolk State managed a brief push to cut the deficit to 14-7. Out of the break, Gators closed the door with kills from Byrd and Harden before Vogel sealed the 25-13 win with her second ace of the set and Florida a 2-0 lead in the match.

  • Set 2 Team Stats | .556 Hitting %| 16 Kills |16 Assists |11 Digs | 0.0 Blocks | 4 Aces

  • Norfolk State | .280 Hitting %| 10 Kills |8 Assists |7 Digs |0.0 Blocks |1 Ace

Set 3

  • Looking to seal the match sweep, a block from Hutson and Rothe put Florida up 7-3. The Gators extended their lead into double digits with kills from Vidacic, Auguste and Harden to head into the media timeout ahead 15-7. Norfolk State added three points to cut into the deficit briefly after the break, but Florida’s balanced offense continued to deliver as back-to-back kills from Harden pushed the lead to 21-10. A kill from Vidacic made it match point and a Spartan hitting error gave Florida the 25-12 set win and a sweep in its 2025 home opener.

  • Set 3 Team Stats | .700 Hitting %|15 Kills | 14 Assists | 5 Digs | 1.0 Blocks | 1 Ace

  • Norfolk State |-.118 Hitting %| 5 Kills | 4 Assists | 4 Digs | 1 Ace | 0.0 Blocks

Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:
On the environment in his first official home opener…
“I played away here as the visiting coach in 2014 and haven’t seen the environment since, so it was great to see so many familiar faces and so many people wearing Orange and Blue.”

On the well-rounded win and having 11 different players contribute to the offensive stat line…

“Even though we are a little thin because of injury, we are deep in talent. I look forward to having some players back in the coming months and getting deeper. If we can be diverse in our offense, its only going to stress a defense more… Some things are starting to click more and more on the court that we have been working on such as our secondary setting and serving… They are a fun group.”

Hear from Middle Blocker Alec Rothe:

On how it felt playing in the O’Dome for the home opener…

“It was awesome seeing so many people come out and support us today. Especially coming off of the Lincoln weekend, that was a big atmosphere for us, so it was nice to be back in our hometown and in front of a sea of blue.”

On having no hitting errors and finishing with a career-high hitting clip…

“Ryan talks a lot about ‘living,’ if the set isn’t there or you can’t quite get a full swing on it, finding a way to keep the ball alive and give us another chance. That’s something that’s underappreciated in volleyball… A lot of times we want to take a big swing and get the kill, but it’s really important to be smart with how we’re playing so we can win points instead of giving them away.”

Notables

  • Florida is 35-6 in home openers, 30-2 in three-set matches

    • Coach Theis is now 10-8, 8-4 in three-set matches

  • The Gators are now 1-0 in three-set matches this season.

  •  Florida’s 2025 home record moves to 1-0.

  • UF sits 2-0 in Sunday matches

  • The Gators close out August 2-1

  • Three Gators either set or tied career highs

  • Five Gators either set or tied season highs

  • Jordyn Byrd’s was the only Gator to reach double-digit kills with 12

  • Lily Hayes was the lone Gator to finish in double-digit digs with 13

Up Next
The Gators open the month of September on the road, making the short trip to Tampa to face in-state foe USF (0-2, 0-0 AAC) on Tuesday, Sept. 2. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.

Opponent: USF

Date & Time: Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. ET

Venue: Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.

Broadcast: ESPN+  https://www.espn.com/watch/?om-navmethod=topnav

Talent: Kelly Burke and Ryan Urquhart

Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5757&type=Live

LiveStats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=602537&vislive=fla

 

Series Record 30-4 (0-0 under Theis)

3-set: 18-1; 4-set: 10-1; 5-set: 2-2

Home: 16-1; Away: 11-1; Neutral: 3-2

Last matchup: 2024, L, 2-3 (25-15, 22-25, 25-12, 23-25, 10-15) in Gainesville, Fla.

 

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