AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn volleyball team hosts a pair of SEC matches
against No. 9 Florida and South Carolina. The Tigers take on the Gators
at 6 p.m. on Friday and finish the weekend with a 2:30 p.m. match versus
the Gamecocks on Sunday. Both matches will be held at the Student
Activities Center and admission is free.
“Florida is always a big match and it will show us where we are
compared to the top teams in country and conference,” Wade Benson,
head volleyball coach, said. “This is a match that allows us to show
our hard work is moving forward. We’re getting closer to the point
where we capable beating them and I’m really excited for this match.
“Sunday’s match is one that will feature two very even teams.
It’s going to be a very good match and is one we’ve been pushing
and training to win. “
DIG FOR THE CURE
Auburn will take part in the annual “Dig For The Cure” on Friday as
a part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Free pink sunglasses
will be handed out to the first 300 fans and free pink shakers will be
available while supplies last. Donations are welcome and all proceeds
will benefit the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation’s Breast
Cancer Fund.
TIGERS DROP TWO ON THE ROAD
Auburn fell in two tough SEC matches on the road this past weekend. The
Tigers fell 3-0 to No. 10 Kentucky on Oct. 9 and 3-0 at Tennessee on
Oct. 11.
Juniors Alyssa Davis and Lauren Mellor led the squads on the weekend.
Davis finished with 12 kills and a .357 attack percentage, while Mellor
tallied 14 kills and a .333 attack percentage. Junior setter Sara Shanks
finished with 41 assists, while classmate Liz Crouch recorded 22 digs.
AUBURN IN THE RPI RANKINGS
The first NCAA Division I Volleyball RPI of 2009 came out earlier this
week, putting Auburn No. 69 in the nation. Auburn jumped 163 spots from
last season when the team finished No. 232 in the country. The young
squad is the fifth-highest ranked team in the SEC, currently behind No.
9 Florida, No. 11 LSU, 13th-ranked Kentucky and No. 20 Tennessee.
“We are very excited to be moving into the top 70 in the nation and
look to move past that into the top 60,” Benson said. “It is
apparent that things are moving in the right direction for Auburn
volleyball.”
TIGERS ON THE ATTACK
Auburn attackers enter the weekend as the fourth-best hitting squad in
the Southeastern Conference and are 60th in the country. As a team, the
Tigers are hitting .238 with 815 kills on 2108 attacks and 313 errors.
Davis continues to be among the conference’s leaders in hitting,
averaging a .350 attack percentage (95 kills, 23 errors, 206 attempts).
Freshman Sarah Bullock has a team-best 158 total kills and is averaging
2.51 kills per set. Junior Morgan Johns is second with 142 total kills,
while sophomore Kelly Fidero has 132 on the season.
FLORIDA GATORS
The No. 9 Florida Gators travel to Auburn with a 12-3 overall record
and a 6-2 record in the SEC. The Gators split last week’s matches,
defeating South Carolina on Oct. 7 (3-1) and falling at LSU (3-0) on
Oct. 11.
Colleen Ward and Kristy Jaeckel lead the squad offensively, tallying
186 and 177 kills on the season, respectively. Senior libero Elyse
Cusack has a team-best 235 digs and currently ranks third in the
conference with a 4.20 dig average.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
South Carolina enters the weekend with a 10-7 overall record and is 2-6
in conference play. The Gamecocks dropped a pair of SEC matches last
week, falling to Florida 3-1 on Oct. 7 and to LSU 3-0 on Oct. 9.
Leading the squad offensively is Hannah Lawing, who has 209 total kills
on the season and averages 2.17 kills per set. Ivana Kujundzic has a
team-best 4.13 kills per set average, while Sarah Cline leads the squad
with 308 total digs.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues its homestand, hosting in-state rival Alabama on Oct.
23 at 6 p.m. The Tigers close out the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. match
against Mississippi State.
against No. 9 Florida and South Carolina. The Tigers take on the Gators
at 6 p.m. on Friday and finish the weekend with a 2:30 p.m. match versus
the Gamecocks on Sunday. Both matches will be held at the Student
Activities Center and admission is free.
“Florida is always a big match and it will show us where we are
compared to the top teams in country and conference,” Wade Benson,
head volleyball coach, said. “This is a match that allows us to show
our hard work is moving forward. We’re getting closer to the point
where we capable beating them and I’m really excited for this match.
“Sunday’s match is one that will feature two very even teams.
It’s going to be a very good match and is one we’ve been pushing
and training to win. “
DIG FOR THE CURE
Auburn will take part in the annual “Dig For The Cure” on Friday as
a part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Free pink sunglasses
will be handed out to the first 300 fans and free pink shakers will be
available while supplies last. Donations are welcome and all proceeds
will benefit the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation’s Breast
Cancer Fund.
TIGERS DROP TWO ON THE ROAD
Auburn fell in two tough SEC matches on the road this past weekend. The
Tigers fell 3-0 to No. 10 Kentucky on Oct. 9 and 3-0 at Tennessee on
Oct. 11.
Juniors Alyssa Davis and Lauren Mellor led the squads on the weekend.
Davis finished with 12 kills and a .357 attack percentage, while Mellor
tallied 14 kills and a .333 attack percentage. Junior setter Sara Shanks
finished with 41 assists, while classmate Liz Crouch recorded 22 digs.
AUBURN IN THE RPI RANKINGS
The first NCAA Division I Volleyball RPI of 2009 came out earlier this
week, putting Auburn No. 69 in the nation. Auburn jumped 163 spots from
last season when the team finished No. 232 in the country. The young
squad is the fifth-highest ranked team in the SEC, currently behind No.
9 Florida, No. 11 LSU, 13th-ranked Kentucky and No. 20 Tennessee.
“We are very excited to be moving into the top 70 in the nation and
look to move past that into the top 60,” Benson said. “It is
apparent that things are moving in the right direction for Auburn
volleyball.”
TIGERS ON THE ATTACK
Auburn attackers enter the weekend as the fourth-best hitting squad in
the Southeastern Conference and are 60th in the country. As a team, the
Tigers are hitting .238 with 815 kills on 2108 attacks and 313 errors.
Davis continues to be among the conference’s leaders in hitting,
averaging a .350 attack percentage (95 kills, 23 errors, 206 attempts).
Freshman Sarah Bullock has a team-best 158 total kills and is averaging
2.51 kills per set. Junior Morgan Johns is second with 142 total kills,
while sophomore Kelly Fidero has 132 on the season.
FLORIDA GATORS
The No. 9 Florida Gators travel to Auburn with a 12-3 overall record
and a 6-2 record in the SEC. The Gators split last week’s matches,
defeating South Carolina on Oct. 7 (3-1) and falling at LSU (3-0) on
Oct. 11.
Colleen Ward and Kristy Jaeckel lead the squad offensively, tallying
186 and 177 kills on the season, respectively. Senior libero Elyse
Cusack has a team-best 235 digs and currently ranks third in the
conference with a 4.20 dig average.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
South Carolina enters the weekend with a 10-7 overall record and is 2-6
in conference play. The Gamecocks dropped a pair of SEC matches last
week, falling to Florida 3-1 on Oct. 7 and to LSU 3-0 on Oct. 9.
Leading the squad offensively is Hannah Lawing, who has 209 total kills
on the season and averages 2.17 kills per set. Ivana Kujundzic has a
team-best 4.13 kills per set average, while Sarah Cline leads the squad
with 308 total digs.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues its homestand, hosting in-state rival Alabama on Oct.
23 at 6 p.m. The Tigers close out the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. match
against Mississippi State.
