# Florida Volleyball Sweeps Stony Brook in Season Opener at O'Connell Center *The 17th-ranked Gators secured their seventh straight home opener victory with a dominant three-set win over the Stony Brook Wolves on Sunday.* - Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com) - URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-volleyball-sweeps-stony-brook-in-season-opener-at-oconnell-center - Sección: Politics - Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff - Publicado: 2026-08-31T07:10:44.644Z > The Florida Gators opened their 2026 volleyball season with a decisive three-set victory over Stony Brook on Sunday afternoon, marking their seventh straight win in the home opener at Gainesville's O'Connell Center. ## Las claves - Florida defeated Stony Brook in three straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-20) to open the 2026 season - The victory marks the seventh consecutive year Florida has won its home opener at the O'Connell Center - Next up is the Big Ten/SEC Challenge against Minnesota and Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin The University of Florida women’s volleyball team opened its 2026 regular-season schedule with a decisive victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Stony Brook Wolves in straight sets. The win took place inside the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, marking the seventh consecutive year that the Gators have won their home opener. Despite early resistance from the visitors, Florida’s Orange and Blue squad maintained control throughout the match to secure a 3-0 sweep. ### Gators Dominate with Balanced Offensive Attack Stony Brook showed resilience in the opening moments of the contest, scoring the first point of the match and taking leads on several occasions. The Wolves also tied the game at multiple points during the rallies. However, Florida responded effectively to each challenge, ultimately outperforming their opponents across key statistical categories. Senior setter Taylor Parks paced both offenses with 26 assists, significantly outshining Stony Brook’s Rayanne Wheat, who recorded 11 assists. Parks also delivered a career-best five service aces during the match. On the front line of the net, Brooklyn Briscoe anchored the defense by recording a solo block and four block assists, contributing to Florida's total of 12.5 team blocks. Offensively, Selena Leban led all players with nine kills, while Kamryn Chaney and Alec Rothe each added six. As a team, the Gators recorded 40 kills compared to Stony Brook’s 22, along with 36 assists against the Wolves' 22. Florida hit at a .247 clip while holding Stony Brook to a mere .023 hitting percentage. ### Defensive Strength and Key Contributions The Gators’ defensive efforts were highlighted by libero Lily Hayes, who contributed 12 of the team’s total 39 digs. In contrast, Stony Brook finished with 33 digs and six total team blocks. Florida also recorded eight aces as a unit compared to four for the visitors, a story we covered in [Florida Gators Basketball Finalizes 2026](/noticia/florida-gators-basketball-finalizes-2026-27-schedule-with-key-matchups). The victory solidified Florida's position among top-25 teams in college volleyball. The Gators closed out the win by scoring on five of their last seven plays, demonstrating why they remain a formidable force at home. The match was broadcast nationally on SEC Network+, with streaming options available via ESPN+. ### Looking Ahead to Big Ten/SEC Challenge The Gators now turn their attention westward for the upcoming Big Ten/SEC Challenge in Madison, Wisconsin. Florida is scheduled to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, with that match airing on the Big Ten Network. Following the matchup against Minnesota, the team will play the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. That contest can be followed on FOX Sports 1. The upcoming road trip presents a new test for Florida as they continue their 2026 campaign after establishing momentum with this home victory. --- Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-volleyball-sweeps-stony-brook-in-season-opener-at-oconnell-center