On Sunday, Florida celebrated senior day and the careers of middle blocker Lauren Bledsoe, libero Erin Fleming and outside hitter Callie Rivers in the O’Connell Center.
After the No. 1 Gators (24-1, 17-0 Southeastern Conference) defeated Alabama in straight sets, 3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-17), it already looked like a picture-perfect day for the UF seniors. Bledsoe hit .667 with nine kills and four blocks, Fleming had nine digs, four assists and a service ace while Rivers hit .333 with nine kills and six digs.
However, the day got even better later in the afternoon after Kentucky upset No. 15 LSU 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-11). The LSU loss guaranteed the Gators at least a share of the SEC title.
“Amanda [Brooks] texted me a little after our game on Sunday,” Bledsoe said. “It was really cool to hear that. Who wouldn’t be excited for that?”
After receiving the news from the University Athletic Association communications intern, Bledsoe and the rest of the Gators were happy to know that they had once again put Florida atop the SEC.
Florida won an SEC title each year from 1991 to 2008.
But 2009 was the first season that the Gators failed to win a conference championship under coach Mary Wise after tying for third place.
“Last year is behind us but this year’s team has a chance to do what last year’s team couldn’t,” Bledsoe said.
A win against Arkansas on Friday will give Florida sole possession of the title. The Gators now have 19 SEC championships — the most in conference history.
Even with the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, the Gators know there is still work to be done before the regular season ends.
“It’s easy to get caught up all in the tournament and everything, but we still have three more matches in the SEC and honestly, anything can happen,” Bledsoe said.
“We have goals just in the SEC, so we need to get those accomplished and focus one match at a time, and then look to the tournament. Sometimes teams get too caught up in that too far ahead of the time and that’s detrimental.”
As a senior leader on the team, Bledsoe wants to make certain the Gators are the only team receiving an SEC title trophy this season.
“I’m convincing them to not look too far ahead even though it’s really tempting,” Bledsoe said. “If you talk to them it can help keep everyone focused. Our team isn’t too hard to handle.”
Florida could have very well played its last match in Gainesville on Sunday. Depending on whether Florida hosts any postseason matches, the Gators road to the national championship could begin now.
Although Wise considers the tournament to have a much different atmosphere than regular-season matches.
“When you get to the NCAA Tournament, it’s a very distinct, different feeling,” Wise said. “Obviously, we are playing for a lot and we have a lot at stake and the challenges of playing on the road are similar, but the NCAA Tournament does have a different look.”
