GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 6 Gators maintained their half-game lead atop the SEC standings and picked up their 12th consecutive victory, defeating Alabama in straight sets after a senior day ceremony honoring three-time All-American right side Alex Holston.

Florida has now swept its last eight matches, its longest run since a streak of nine consecutive straight-set victories from Sep. 17-Oct. 13, 2013. The Gators last dropped a set at Texas A&M (Oct. 16) and have won each of the 26 sets they played since losing the second set in College Station.

UF's defense was spectacular all afternoon. The Gators held Alabama to a .000 hitting percentage, marking their best efficiency defense since holding New Hampshire to a -.067 clip in last year's NCAA Tournament First Round match. They also held Alabama's Krystal Rivers, the SEC's leader in kills per set (5.85), to seven kills and a .000 clip.

Offensively, Florida's dynamic trio of Rhamat Alhassan (11), Carli Snyder (12), and Holston (10) combined for 33 of its 32 kills. Alhassan also totaled six blocks for a match-high 14 points.

Redshirt sophomore setter Allie Monserez kept the offense flowing, posting 35 assists and 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.

The opening set saw both teams remain within two points of one another, until a three-point service run by freshman Chanelle Hargreaves allowed the Gators to pull away for a 25-18 win. After winning six of the final eight points for a 25-16 victory in set two, UF dominated the clinching set, holding Alabama to a -.103 clip in a 25-12 rout.

THE RECORDS

No. 6 Florida: 24-2, 14-1 SEC

Alabama: 17-11, 6-9 SEC

NOTABLES AND TRENDS

* Florida improves its all-time record against Alabama to 43-0, and to 41-0 under head coach Mary Wise.

o It was also UF's 39th all-time sweep and 14th consecutive sweep in the series.

* The Gators hit .368, logging a clip of .350 or higher for the eighth straight match, which is the longest streak since the 2003 Gators, who reached the national title match, also hit above .350 in eight consecutive matches.

* UF has held 11 opponents under a .100 clip this season, marking the most times it has done that in a season since 2006, when the Gators held 12 opponents below that mark.

* Florida has held six opponents below an .050 hitting percentage this year, matching its total from all of 2015.

* Today marked the seventh time this season and first time since Oct. 16 (at Texas A&M) Rhamat Alhassan, Alex Holston, and Carli Snyder all finished with double-digit kills.

o Today was the only one of those seven matches that did not go four sets.

* Alhassan hit above .700 for the third time this season.

UP NEXT

The Gators face No. 21 Missouri on Sunday (Nov. 20) in a match that will have a significant impact on the SEC title race, as both enter the match with just one loss in league play.

SEC Network will provide live television coverage from Columbia. Fans can also listen to the match on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 FM / 850 AM, with Tom Collett on the call. First serve is slated for 4 p.m. ET.