The No. 1 Florida clinched at least a share of the program’s 19th Southeastern Conference volleyball regular-season championship with a 3-0 victory over Alabama on Senior Day. The set scores were 25-17, 25-10, 25-17.
Florida moved to 24-1 and 17-0 in the SEC with its 19th straight victory, and the Gators got their help from Kentucky, which took a 3-2 victory from Western Division leader Louisiana State. Coach Mary Wise’s team needs to win just one more league match to clinch the title outright. The Gators will do that on the road this Friday night at Arkansas (8 p.m.) or Sunday at No. 15 Louisiana State (2 p.m.) or Nov. 26 at South Carolina (7 p.m.).
It is the third SEC title for Florida this school year, following ones won by the women’s soccer team and the women’s cross country team.
“Through our play to this point in the season, we have put ourselves in a position to win an SEC title,” Florida coach Mary Wise said. “This much we know, today we at least share a championship. Now we go on the road for two straight weekends in three tough environments and try to win the SEC title outright.”
Florida’s graduating seniors – Lauren Bledsoe, Erin Fleming and Callie Rivers – were honored. They combined for 18 kills, 15 digs and six blocks as Florida hit .371 in its final regular-season home match. It was the 13th time this season that the Gators have hit over .300, the sixth time in their last eight matches. Florida also outblocked Alabama, 7.0-1.0 and limited the Crimson Tide (10-17, 2-15 SEC) to just .062 hitting efficiency.
Junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy led the way for the Gators with 10 kills on 16 swings for a .625 hitting efficiency, and it marked her second errorless match this season. Murphy added 15 assists for her 12th consecutive double-double, to complement seven digs, two service aces and two blocks for a match-high 13.0 total points.
“It was a great way to end the regular-season home schedule,” Wise said. “We had some really solid performances by a lot of different people and it is good to end our home season on a high note.” The Florida’s trio of seniors have compiled an overall record of 105-14 (.882), including a league record of 70-7 (.910). They have made three NCAA regional semifinal appearances and have captured three SEC Championships.
“Each year, our hope is that our seniors will have their best year in their senior season,” Wise said. “Without question, Erin, Lauren and Callie have done that. That they can end their careers at home on such a high note is terrific. It’s a great opportunity to recognize the seniors in front of the home crowd, but we know that work is still ahead of us.”
Bledsoe charted nine kills on .667 hitting with a match-high four blocks for 11.5 total points, while Rivers added nine kills on .333 hitting with six digs and two blocks for 11.0 points. Fleming led the team’s back-row effort with a match-high nine digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel, who on Thursday night registered a double-double, followed up with seven kills and three digs, while sophomore right-side Tangerine Wiggs added five kills on .444 hitting.
Freshman setter Chanel Brown dished out a match-high 18 assist to complement five digs, while junior middle blocker Cassandra Anderson turned in three blocks.
The teams traded points for the most part in the first set. Florida was ahead 17-14 when Alabama called for a timeout. The Gators then extended the lead to 19-15 on a Rivers service ace. After another Crimson Tide timeout, Florida scored the final six points behind the serving of Anderson. Bledsoe finished the match with a pair of kills as Florida hit .406 in the opening set.
Florida jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second set on the serve of Anderson. Anderson and Rivers combined for a block to put Florida up 9-3 and the lead eventually increased to 15, 22-7, on a Rivers kill. Wiggs finished the set with a kill as Florida hit .455 and held Alabama to -0.91 hitting.
Florida took a 6-3 lead in the third set thanks to a block by Bledsoe and Wiggs and a Murphy service ace. A Murphy-Anderson block put Florida up 12-6 and the Gators eventually went on a 5-0 run to go up 20-11 on a block by Bledsoe and Jaeckel. Murphy’s kill ended the set and match for Florida.
With the victory, Florida is 34-0 all-time against Alabama, including 32-0 under Wise.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
EASTERN DIVISION SEC/Overall
(1) Florida 17-0/24-1
(21) Tennessee 13-5/22-6
Kentucky 10-8/16-12
Georgia 4-13/13-16
South Carolina 4-13/7-20
WESTERN DIVISION SEC/Overall
(15) Louisiana State 14-3/23-3
Mississippi 13-5/19-8
Auburn 8-9/17-12
Arkansas 7-10/13-15
Mississippi State 3-14/11-17
Alabama 2-15/10-17
RESULTS
Sunday / Nov. 14
Florida 3, Alabama 0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-17)
Kentucky 3, Louisiana State 2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-11)
Tennessee 3, Arkansas 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-15)
Mississippi 3, Auburn 2 (25-17, 25-17, 13-25, 18-25, 15-13)
Saturday / Nov. 13
South Carolina 3, Mississippi State 2 (25-22, 17-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-12)
Friday / Nov. 12
Mississippi 3, Georgia 1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19)
Kentucky 3, Arkansas 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21)
South Carolina 3, Alabama 1 (25-12, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17)
Louisiana State 3, Tennessee 1 (18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21)
Thursday / Nov. 11
Florida 3, Mississippi State 1 (25-7, 25-23, 28-30, 25-20)
Tuesday / Nov. 9
Georgia 3, Kennesaw State 0 (25-23, 33-31, 25-19)
SCHEDULE
Friday / Nov. 19
Florida at Arkansas, 8 p.m.
Auburn at Alabama, 8 p.m.
South Carolina at Louisiana State, 8 p.m.
Georgia at Mississippi State, 8 p.m.
Kentucky at Mississippi, 8 p.m.
Sunday / Nov. 21
Florida at Louisiana State, 2 p.m.
Georgia at Alabama, 2 p.m. (CSS)
Tennessee at Mississippi, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Auburn at Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Arkansas, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday / Nov. 24
Mississippi State at Alabama, 5 p.m.
Tennessee at Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Auburn at Georgia, 7 p.m.
Louisiana State at Arkansas, 8 p.m.
Thursday / Nov. 25
Georgia at Auburn, 7 p.m.
Friday / Nov. 26
Florida at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
For the latest Bison/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I coaches poll, click below:
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-volley/division_i1.html
For the latest 2010 NCAA Women’s Volleyball RPI rankings, click below:
http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2010WVBrpi1.html