The LSU volleyball team clinched the outright Southeastern Conference Western Division title for the second year in a row with a 3-0 win over Auburn on Sunday at the PMAC. The feat also marks the third straight year LSU (24-6, 15-5) has held at least part of the title, as the Tigers shared the title with Arkansas in 2005. LSU also defeated Georgia 3-0 on Friday. The win kept LSU in control of its own destiny, needing the Sunday win over Auburn (11-20, 3-17) to edge Ole Miss for the Western Division title. LSU coach Fran Flory said the two SEC sweeps were a point of focus in practice, especially since LSU needed all five games to win in the two previous weekend matches. “We have not been a great team after game two,” Flory said. “We’ve worked on finding a new way to focus and make sure everyone is intense and ready to go after game two.” Junior outside hitter Kyna Washington joked about the Tigers’ tendency to need four or five games to seal the match. “We were kidding around that we like to give the fans their money’s worth,” Washington said. “But that has been one of our goals, to win the first three games.” Washington, who led the team with 14 kills against Auburn, said the team made T-shirts this past week with the motto, “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.” Flory said she has encouraged the team to find inner motivation, especially as the Tigers’ season is drawing to a close. “They did that unbeknownst to me,” Flory said. “Our goal is to always be champions.” Defensive specialist Michelle Hensgens, the sole senior on the LSU squad, was honored before the crowd of 636 after the LSU victory. Hensgens joined the team in 2004 as a walk-on and received a scholarship before her senior season. “It was exciting for it to finally be my turn,” she said. “It’s the beginning of the end, but we have so much left to accomplish. It’s the last push.” LSU ends the regular season 7 p.m. Saturday against Tulane. The NCAA Tournament selections will be announced Sunday.
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