GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The sold-out Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd went silent at the end of the second set during a highly anticipated match against then-No.1 ranked Wisconsin on Sept. 17.
The 10,323 fans in attendance, a program record and largest crowd to ever watch a college volleyball game in the state of Florida, realized the Gators' promising season had stepped into a harmful pothole when All-American sophomore setter
Alexis Stucky dropped to the ground in agonizing pain while grasping her right knee.
Stucky returned to the bench from the locker room on crutches but was later diagnosed with a torn ACL and MCL.
Her season was over.
Gators head coach
Mary Wise pointed to backup-setter
Kennedy Muff following Stucky's injury.
A fifth-year graduate transfer from Division II Flagler College, Muff did not intend to be the Gators' primary setter last December when she announced that she would be using her final year of eligibility in Gainesville.
But a year later, that is Muff's position on the team as Stucky recovers from surgery.
The Gators are in the NCAA Tournament for the 33rd consecutive year, facing Florida Gulf Coast University on Thursday at home.
They will do so with Muff playing a critical role.
Muff, who starred at Westosha (Wis.) High before college, elaborated Wednesday about her decision to come to Florida and the initial role she anticipated.
"In the summer, I hung onto my role of being Stucky's rock and being her backbone and doing anything I can," said Muff. "Committing here, I told Mary I would do anything to be a part of this team and a part of this program."
When asked about the sudden change in responsibilities, Muff admitted that it had challenges but was expected.
"I mean, it's definitely been a big change. It's been a lot more pressure, but it's sports, it's athletics,'' she said. "Things like that happen."
Freshman
Kennedy Martin, who was named to the All-SEC Team, had high praise for Muff's growth over the season.
"
Kennedy Muff, first of all, is one of the hardest workers that I've ever known," Martin stated. "Throughout the summer, she was here every day, texting us, asking us if anybody is in town or not busy doing anything.
"She's always been a hard worker and somebody to look up to and someone to be excited to play with every day."
While Muff has developed as a player and leader since arriving to Florida, much of her experience comes from her four years at Flagler. In fact, Muff was a four-year team captain with the Saints, who qualified for the Division II NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons on the St. Augustine campus.
Asked how that experience could help, Muff acknowledged the differences in talent between the two levels. Still, she plans to bring the same attitude to the court that allowed her to shine at Flagler.
"The big one is physicality — the speed and size of the girls at this level is very different from Division II," Muff said. "But champions are champions at every level, and I'm going to hopefully be one here, too."
The tournament presents a new challenge for Muff and serves as her last collegiate volleyball. Wise talked with the media on Wednesday about the advice she has offered her setter.
"Be Muff. That is the reoccurring line we've used with her," Wise said. "[She] is the consummate team player [who] would do anything for this program."
The unlikely scenario of a four-year Division II setter going to a premier program like Florida and starting in place of an elite talent like Stucky on the college game's biggest stage is unique. The thought of that setter succeeding is remarkable in Wise's eyes.
"It really is one of the greatest stories," Wise said. "You got a team that's in the NCAA Tournament, a year ago that setter was setting in the Division II conference tournaments.
"It's just crazy."
