The Auburn Tigers (9-11, 2-8 SEC) clashed with the Ole Miss Rebels (12-12, 2-8) on Friday night at Auburn Arena, winning the dramatic five-set match 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-12). With the victory, Auburn snapped a five-game losing streak.
Like many of their matches, Auburn started the match strong. With kills by Shaina White and Anna Stevenson and an attack error by Ole Miss’ Caitlin Wernentin, the Tigers won the first three points of the match. Auburn stretched their lead to five-points at 15-10—their largest advantage in the first set—after a service ace by Brenna McIlroy. Ole Miss never was able to pull close to Auburn’s lead, as the Tigers won the first set 25-21.
Ole Miss bounced back in the second set, taking a five-point lead of their own at 11-16. However, a kill by Tatum Shipes brought Auburn within one-point at 18-17. After the Rebels took a 3-point lead, Auburn’s Mica Allison responded with a kill to bring the Tigers within one-point again at 20-21. Yet, Auburn was unable to tie Ole Miss, as the Rebels took the second set at 23-25.
The third set saw Auburn and Ole Miss trading point-for-point, as the two teams alternated the first 10 points of the set. Tied at 5-5, there would be more lead changes to come in the third set, as a kill by Allison put Auburn on top at 11-10.
Ole Miss responded by retaking the lead at 15-16 with a kill by Emily Stroup. Auburn would once again take back the lead, as a kill by McIlroy generated an 18-17 score in favor of the Tigers. After a kill by Bayleigh Scott of Ole Miss once again brought the Rebels within one of Auburn’s 21-20 lead, Auburn answered by winning the next three points.
A kill by Chesney McClellan, an attack error by Ole Miss’ Leah Mulkey, and a kill by Shipes provided the Tigers with a 24-20 lead. On set point number two, Shipes got a kill that closed out the set at 25-21 and gave Auburn 2-1 set lead.
Auburn led Ole Miss for the majority of the fourth set, as the Tigers had three different four-point leads—the latest being at 14-10. Auburn’s lead was paced by Gwyn Jones, who had five kills in the fourth set.
However, Ole Miss refused to be put away, eventually tying the fourth set at 21-all after a kill by Mulkey. Auburn briefly took back the lead, but another kill by Mulkey gave the Rebels a 22-24 lead. A kill by Auburn’s Shipes tied the set at 25-all, but Ole Miss would take the next two points and win the set 25-27—forcing a decisive fifth set.
After Ole Miss won the first point of the final set, Auburn countered with a five-point run that was highlighted by a service ace by Bella Rosenthal. The Tigers’ 5-1 set lead would break out to a 12-4 advantage, with McIlroy, Stevenson, and Allison all getting kills during the stretch.
However, Ole Miss continued to push back, going on a six-point run that brought the Rebels within two points at 13-11. The Tigers would hold on though. A kill by McClellan brought match point, which was followed two points later by McIlroy’s match-clinching kill, which won the fifth and final set 15-12 for Auburn.
Auburn outplayed Ole Miss in three major stat categories: kills, aces, and assists. The Tigers had 77 kills, 5 aces, and 72 assists to the Rebels 59 kills, 1 ace, and 52 assists. Auburn was led by freshman Tatum Shipes, who had a career-high 21 kills. Senior Brenna McIlroy added 18 kills and 3 aces, while Junior Gwyn Jones had 13 kills of her own.
Auburn continues their homestand at Auburn Arena on Sunday against Arkansas (10-10, 4-6 SEC) at 1:30 CT. This will be Auburn’s first and only meeting with Arkansas during the regular season. You can listen to the game live on WEGL 91.1 FM or online at weglfm.com, with coverage starting with the pregame show at 1:15 CT.
