LSU’s volleyball seniors got their bouquets and framed jerseys after a 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-19) sweep of Alabama on Sunday afternoon in the PMAC.But the real present came some 800 miles away in Lexington, Ky., when Florida defeated Kentucky, 3-1, to give LSU a share of the Southeastern Conference title for the first time since 1991.The victory for the Gators came 15 minutes after the end of LSU’s match and got the Tigers and the remaining fans celebrating and hugging on the main floor of the PMAC.Kentucky still has one match remaining Wednesday night against Tennessee. If the Volunteers defeat the Wildcats, LSU will win the SEC title outright.”What a great way to go out your senior year,” said LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs. “This year has been exciting for us, especially with beating Florida twice. All the emotions are just running around in my head right now. I don’t even know what to do.”It was the seniors who carried the No. 17 Tigers (24-5, 18-2) to the victory against Alabama on Senior Day.Outside hitter Lauren DeGirolamo corralled a career-high 21 digs, and her four kills put her at more than 1,000 for her career. Fellow outside hitter Marina Skender led the Tigers with 11 kills on a .300 hitting percentage, while middle blocker Brittnee Cooper tacked on eight kills.Dabbs dished out 35 assists in the match to go along with eight kills and five digs.With the victory against Alabama (8-21, 6-13), LSU has now won 17 of its last 18 matches heading into a Friday night non-conference tilt with Rice, who won the Conference USA tournament title on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers have also gone undefeated against SEC West opponents for three straight seasons (30 straight wins).”We had a balanced attack going tonight,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “It was fitting that we set Cooper on match point, and she terminates it with a statement swing for her.”The Crimson Tide controlled the majority of the second set and held a 23-20 lead late. But the Tigers stormed back to take the set, 27-25.Dabbs said it was important for the team to get challenged in the set, especially with the NCAA tournament looming.”You want to be tested every now and then,” Dabbs said. “Having our backs against the wall is going to happen in the NCAA tournament. We aren’t going to be able to come out there and win in three easy.”Friday night against Mississippi State, a strong showing by LSU’s duo of middle blockers — Cooper and sophomore Michele Williams — led the Tigers to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21,25-20) sweep of Mississippi State (8-22, 4-15).Cooper knocked home 13 kills on a .440 attacking percentage, while Williams added on 14 kills of her own, eight of which came in the second set.The Tigers hit .294 while holding the Bulldogs to a .186 attacking percentage and collecting 55 digs as a team.The Tigers had only four blocks in the match.”Part of blocking is channeling the ball, and I thought we did a good job of that,” Flory said. “We don’t have the blocks on the stat sheet, but we were digging well.”
 
 
 
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