Pair of Florida volleyball stars named to Player of the Year Watch List

Taylor Parks and Alec Rothe will represent No. 5 Florida volleyball on the 2026 AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List, presented by Nike Volleyball, as the organization announced the additions to the list on Thursday afternoon.

Parks, a third-year setter, helps direct a potent Gators offense that is hitting .291, the second-best mark in the Southeastern Conference and ninth in the NCAA. The Clearwater, Florida, native ranks in the top 100 nationally in multiple categories, including assists per set (32nd, 10.30) and total assists (90th, 474).

She also plays a critical role on defense, averaging 2.22 digs per set. Against No. 3 Kentucky, Parks recorded a career-high six kills on 10 attempts, hitting .500.

Rothe has established herself as one of the nation's best middle blockers. The third-year Dublin, Ohio, native leads the SEC with a .449 hitting percentage, which is seventh nationally. She also averages 1.29 blocks per set — fourth in the conference and 49th in the NCAA — along with 3.13 points and 2.42 kills per set.

Against No. 5 Wisconsin in early September, Rothe posted 11 blocks, which tied for ninth in a single match in school history, and her 10 block assists tied for sixth.

The duo is among 16 athletes added to the list, joining 30 who were named to the Preseason Watch List in July. The AVCA will release the semifinalists in mid-November and the finalists in December. The Player of the Year will be named at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 18, in San Antonio.

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