When South Carolina rolls into the O’Connell Center on Sunday, Florida could potentially wrap up its 20th Southeastern Conference championship on the same day Betsy Smith, Tangerine Wiggs and Sundai Weston are honored for Senior Day.
But before that can happen, No. 16 Florida (21-4, 15-1) has to take care of business against LSU (12-14, 8-9) on Friday at 6 p.m.
Two wins away from clinching the SEC, Wise said her team has to take this weekend one match at a time. Despite the possible distractions of a 20th title or Senior Day on Sunday, Wise said the Gators have prepared this week like any another and are solely focused on the Tigers.
“This week, in terms of preparation, would look no different than any other previous SEC week,” she said. “Players know what’s at stake, but all the focus has been LSU (on) Friday night.”
Weston, who is one of just four active players who was part of the 2010 SEC Championship team, said this homestand can’t preoccupy the players’ thoughts. Too much is at stake.
The Gators can reflect after the season. For now, they have work to do.
“Senior weekend is special, but at the same time our focus of wanting to win and work on the things that will help us be prepared for those teams don’t change,” she said.
Tonight's matchup will be the only time Florida faces LSU this season due to the new scheduling format the SEC used to accommodate the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri.
LSU only tops Mississippi State with a .198 hitting percentage this season, and the Tigers are in the bottom half of the league with 13.35 kills per set.
While Florida has been the SEC bottom dweller in digs all year, LSU tops the league with 17.05 digs per set. Wise said the strong back-row defense by the Tigers will be tough to break with a “rusty” Chloe Mann, who has been resting in practice to avoid getting injured or peaking too early, and a hobbled Smith, who turned her ankle against Florida State on Oct. 24.
“It’s about being patient offensively,” Wise said. “The ball will come back. That’s been LSU for some time now.”
