Last year, the Gators needed all 11 Southeastern Conference games to win the regular-season title. This season they will have three chances to clinch at least a share of the top spot, starting tonight with a match against Arkansas.
UF will secure at least half of the SEC title with a win.
Even if the Gators (13-2-1, 8-0 SEC) do not defeat the Razorbacks (11-5-0, 4-4 SEC), they can still claim the conference with a win in either of their other two matches. One of those final matches is against the only team that can still challenge them for the title: LSU.
If UF does not win another match this season, a loss by the Tigers will also clinch a share of the title for UF.
The Gators would still prefer to handle it themselves and not leave their fate to other teams.
Having command of their own future is different than last year, when the Gators needed to win their last nine conference games and get some help to overtake Georgia for first place in the last match of the season - a 3-0 win against Vanderbilt.
Their power over their outcome has created a more comfortable position for UF.
"It's really relaxing. We have the ball in our court, we put the faith in our own hands," junior Ashlee Elliott said. "Regardless of the outcome on Thursday, I know we will be satisfied by the end of the SEC."
The Gators have two other matches after Arkansas to clinch the title, but tonight will be their last chance to do it in front of a home crowd.
For some of the underclassmen, it would be a great gift to give the seniors, who will be playing their final regular season game in James G. Pressly Stadium.
"It's going to mean a lot to the whole team, but even more for the seniors, because that will be their last home game," junior Lauren Hyde said.
Elliott wants to prove to the UF students that they are a championship team. She was even trying to pull a few strings and get some extra fans to cheer them on.
"I was trying to get Urban Meyer to cancel football practice so they can come watch and support us," Elliott said.
Odds are, the football team won't be present if the Gators clinch their third regular-season title in a row.
If UF does defeat Arkansas, the celebration will be short-lived.
UF coach Becky Burleigh says she will quickly remind the team of the other goals they still want to achieve this season.
"We have to look at the big picture in terms of NCAA seeding and SEC Tournament seeding," Burleigh said.
The Gators still have a lot left to accomplish this season even with a win Thursday, but they have already surpassed many people's expectations, including Burleigh's.
With so many new faces and changes to the starting lineup, the coach had some doubts about how good of a job her team could do at staying focused and clicking on the field.
"(Clinching it this early) would not have been something I predicted at the beginning of the season - that's for sure," Burleigh said.
