Senior Jane Collymore (Englewood, Colo.) finished with a match-high 26 kills and 11 digs in helping guide No. 6 Florida to a 3-1 win against Auburn (30-16, 30-19, 24-30, 30-16) as the Gators earned at least a share of their 15^th straight Southeastern Conference title on Sunday afternoon at the Student Activities Center.

With two matches left to play, the Gators need just one win to claim sole possession of their 15^th straight SEC title. Florida (23-2, 13-1) matched the Arkansas men’s cross country program (1991-present) and the Tennessee men’s outdoor track and field program (1964-78) as the only teams in SEC conference history in all sports to win as many as 15 straight SEC titles.

“It really was two different matches today with how well Auburn played in games three and four,” Florida coach Mary Wise said. “Out team did a good job of maintaining our focus and we were led by the play of our senior All-American Jane Collymore. To win the SEC was one of our goals at the beginning of the season and we’ve put ourselves in a position to accomplish that goal.”

The Gators improved to 22-0 vs. Auburn (8-14, 2-12) in Mary Wise’s tenure as she joined Arkansas’ John McDonnell as the only coaches in the history of the SEC to win 15 straight titles. Florida hit .357 in the match, while finishing with more kills (74-40), digs (67-59) and blocks (14.0-8.0), while holding Auburn to a .068 hitting efficiency.

Collymore posted her 42^nd career double-double with her kill total representing her second-highest total of the season after finishing with 30 vs. Southern California earlier in the year. Sophomore middle blocker Kisya Killingsworth (Deltona, Fla.) fared well as she had 16 kills on .419 hitting with a career-tying four solo blocks and nine total blocks. Sophomore setter Angie McGinnis (Fraser, Mich.) guided UF to the .357 team hitting percentage and added 57 assists, 10 digs and six kills.

Senior libero Rachel Engel (Littleton, Colo.) collected 17 digs and moved into fourth in Florida history in career digs with 1,211. With her assist total, McGinnis now ranks seventh in Gator history with 2,358.

Auburn scored the opening two points the first game, but Florida immediately went on a 10-0 run and never looked back in a 30-16 win. The Gators hit .405 in the game with Killingsworth providing six kills on .750 hitting and Collymore adding six kills on .417 hitting. The Tigers took a 2-0 advantage, but after Killingsworth tallied a kill, junior defensive specialist Rhian Davis (Austin, Texas) served UF to nine consecutive points and a 10-2 lead. Killingsworth had three kills in the stretch with Davis adding a pair of aces. Auburn never got closer than seven the rest of the way before Collymore ended the game on a kill from the pipe. Engel led all players with six digs in the game.

Fueled by a 13-1 midway through, the Gators again cruised in the second game in a 30-19 win. The frame was close in the opening stages with Auburn pulling within a point at 10-9 after a kill. But Florida sided out before sophomore outside hitter Marcie Hampton (Gainesville, Fla.) held serve for the next eight points as the Gators built a 19-9 advantage. Following an Auburn point, Florida tacked on four more points as the Gators went ahead 23-9 before eventually closing the game out on a kill from Collymore on an angle shot. The Gators hit .385 in the game, while holding Auburn to a .054 efficiency. Collymore paved the way for Florida with eight kills on 12 swings, while also finishing with a game-high five digs.

Auburn turned the tables in the third game in using a late 7-0 run to secure a 30-24 win. Florida held the advantage through the opening stages, but the teams remained close as Auburn never fell behind more than four points. After a kill from Hampton gave UF a 18-17 lead, Auburn scored seven consecutive points to move ahead 23-19. Florida came within a pair at 23-21 after a kill from Collymore, but the Tigers responded by tallying the next to points before going on to the win. Collymore led all players with six kills on .500 hitting in the game.

Auburn played the Gators close in the final game, but a 13-2 UF run midway through sealed Auburn’s fate in a 30-16 win. Florida took its first lead after a service ace from Collymore made the score 12-11. Auburn tied the game, but Florida then scored six consecutive points and 13 of the next 15 to move ahead 23-14. Engel served the first six points in the run with Killingsworth providing two kills, a solo block and a pair of block assists in the stretch. Auburn came within nine at 25-16, but Florida scored the final five points of the match, including the final tally on a kill from Collymore who again led all players with six kills in the game.

Florida will hit the court again next weekend when the Gators host Mississippi on Friday at 7 p.m. and Mississippi State on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Both matches can be seen via GatorVision Online, while WRUF-AM 850 will broadcast both on the airwaves and at www.GatorZone.com.