AUBURN, Ala. - For the first time in 14 years, the Auburn Tigers (11-1) take down the Kentucky Wildcats in a reverse 3-2 sweep. The Tigers earn their second win over a top-25 opponent, and their first win to kickoff SEC conference play.
The Friday night matchup began with an electric first set that saw the Tigers stay neck and neck with the opposing SEC powerhouse, with Auburn taking an 18-16 lead towards the set’s final stretch. However, errors and two aces by the Wildcats would see the Tigers fall 20-25.
Set two saw a bit of frustration build as several unnecessary errors and miscommunications led Kentucky to go up 2-0. Auburn struggled to gain momentum late in the set but managed to completely regain their composure into set three.
Over the next three sets, the Tigers would outscore the Wildcats 68-52, led by several outstanding performances from the Auburn attack.
Junior Madison Scheer finished the night with 17 kills, one short of her season high, on a .342 hitting percentage. “We weren’t playing our best volleyball, and we were still hanging in there with them”, said Scheer in her postgame interview. “I knew we could come back and win, and I think that starts with our team chemistry”. The strong team chemistry was clear, as the Auburn roster saw graduate seniors Bella Bell with 12 kills and Chelsey McCurdy with 11.
McCurdy particularly was incredibly clutch for the Tigers, coming up with 11 kills on only 15 attempts; an outstandingly efficient night that sparked a lot of momentum for the Tigers going into the last half of the match.
Junior Bel Zimmerman also was a major contributor, as she ended the night responsible for eight points to go along with four blocks.
The defensive efforts from the Tigers are not to be overlooked either, especially the performance by freshman Grace Havlicek. Havlicek, who stepped in for the injured Emma Moore, dominated on the defensive end, showcasing 10 total blocks for the Tigers, including back-to-back block assists to seal the game in the final set. six kills on an efficient .667 hit percentage from Havlicek also showcased the freshman's versatility. “She is amazing… She has really stepped into that role” said Scheer when asked about the true freshman’s contributions to the team.
Although it’s early in the season, this win could be a major indicator of the trajectory and ceiling for this Auburn team. This is the second top-25 win for the Tigers, the first coming against the 15th-ranked Florida State Seminoles, and hopefully pushes Auburn from the “receiving votes” category to officially being ranked.
The Tigers will be looking to bring the energy from this monumental win into Sunday’s match in the Iron Bowl of volleyball against Alabama. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on September 29. You can listen in on WEGL 91.1 FM or stream the match on SEC Network.
