Gators Volleyball Wins SEC Title On Senior Day; Beat USC 3-0

The 16th ranked Florida volleyball team wasn’t supposed to be here, hoisting the SEC crown, after all time greats Kelly Murphy and Kristy Jaeckel graduated last year.  Many believed it would take some time for the Orange and Blue to fill the shoes of Jaeckel and former SEC Player of the Year Murphy.  Well that time came sooner rather than later.  The Gators (23-4, 17-1 SEC) swept South Carolina in three games on Sunday afternoon to clinch outright ownership of the conference title.  The championship marks the 20th conference volleyball title in school history with UF head coach Mary Wise at the helm for all of them.

The championship was also a great way to send out the three seniors (right side hitter Tangerine Wiggs, middle blocker Betsy Smith, and setter Sundai Weston) being honored for Senior Day.

Weston says the conference title should silence the naysayers…

The other two senior Gators, Smith and Wiggs, had extremely efficent days against the Gamecocks.  Smith hit .500 (11 kills) while Wiggs hit .444 (10 kills). Smith says the three share a strong bond because of everything they’ve been through together…

The trifecta’s head coach, Wise says she wouldn’t have chosen anybody else…

Another Florida player who had a big night as usual was freshman Ziva Recek, who had 17 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.

The Gators will finish up the regular season in the next week as they travel to Auburn for an 8 p.m clash on Wednesday and then head to Athens to take on Georgia Friday night at 7 p.m.

Following those matches, the NCAA Selection Show will be on November 25th at 4 p.m on ESPNU.  Florida has already earned an automatic bid as conference champions and will find out whether or not they’ll start off the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville or somewhere else in the country on that Sunday.

Smith says a return to the O’Dome would be nice but the Gators are going to bring their best game no matter where they play…