<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1kNjQA_0wL1q8J500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1kNjQA_0wL1q8J500" width="1000" height="667" ><figcaption>Junior middle back Gabrielle Essix blocks the ball in the Gators' 3-2 win against the Sacramento State Hornets Thursday, Sept. 8, 2023. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg | The Independent Florida Alligator</figcaption></figure>Florida volleyball senior middle blocker Gabrielle Essix announced on Thursday evening that she will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign for the Gators after suffering an injury that will require season-ending surgery.The senior middle blocker announced her injury via Instagram on Thursday. While the exact injury that Essix sustained is currently unclear, she had previously suffered from nagging knee injuries throughout her career at UF.Essix spent her entire collegiate career playing for the Gators, having appeared in 72 games throughout her four years in Gainesville. “God has placed the best teammates, coaches, support staff, and friends in my life and I know I will come back stronger than ever,” Essix wrote in her Instagram post. “I can’t wait to start this recovery process and get back to doing what I love.”Essix’s accomplishments during her time at Florida include winning Gold with Team USA’s U21 squad at the Pan American Cup in the summer of 2023 and being selected to participate with the 2022 Team USA Collegiate National Training Team.“One of the things that hurts the most is not being able to go out and play with this group of girls one more time this year,” Essix said. This team is truly special and we are not going down without a fight.”Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her on X @shainedavison.Support your local paperThe Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today. </div></body>

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Florida volleyball’s Gabrielle Essix announces abrupt end to her senior season

Florida volleyball senior middle blocker Gabrielle Essix announced on Thursday evening that she will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign for the Gators after suffering an injury that will require season-ending surgery. The senior middle blocker announced her injury via Instagram on Thursday. While the exact injury that Essix...