AUBURN, Ala, -- Auburn (6-0) will travel to Minneapolis this weekend to participate in the Diet Coke Classic. The Tigers will again put their undefeated record on the line in matches against No. 19 Minnesota (2-3) and Long Island (1-6). Auburn will face off against Minnesota on Friday night and Long Island on Saturday.
The Tigers return to the court Friday after sweeping the Plainsman Invitational, including a three sets to one win over No. 15 Florida State. The Tigers have started the season out red hot, but this weekend will bring the first matches outside of Neville Arena for head coach Brent Crouch's team. How Crouch's team will handle playing in a different arena could be the biggest question of the weekend.
In the first match of the weekend, Auburn will face Minnesota. The Tigers and Gophers have not faced one another since 2009. The Gophers won that match three sets to none in Minnesota. Minnesota is the ranked team in this matchup, but Auburn has the better record. Two of Minnesota's losses came against top-25 teams. The Gophers also knocked off No. 1 Texas earlier this year.
A key point of this match could be Auburn's defense against Minnesota. Auburn is holding opponents to a .138 hitting percentage through six matches. Minnesota's hitting percentage through five games is .211. Can Auburn stifle the Gophers attack?
Auburn will face Long Island in the second matchup. Long Island has struggled so far this season, winning just one match and losing in straight sets in four of their six losses. One thing to watch in this match is blocks. Auburn leads the SEC with 3.08 blocks per set, but Long Island opponents only average 1.40 blocks per set.
Friday's night match against Minnesota should be the biggest test for the undefeated Tigers, but both matches give Crouch's team a chance to show their capability away from Neville Arena. The matchup against Minnesota will begin at 6 p.m. CT Friday. The match against Long Island will begin at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday. Both matches will air on the Auburn Sports Network and Big Ten+.
