AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn Tigers (14-11, 4-10) fell 3 sets to 1 (25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) to the No. 20 Florida Gators (20-5, 11-3) in their final game at Neville Arena Wednesday night. It was the Tigers’ final home game of the year and Senior Night, celebrating the contributions of Chelsea McCurdy, Paige Thibault, Bella Bell, and Fallan Lanham over their Auburn careers.
Set one started competitive, with the Tigers hanging in with the Gators up to a 12-12 tie. A 4-0 Florida run would give the Gators the separation they needed, and they did not look back, going on to take the set 25-17
The Gators jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the second set, but Auburn came roaring back to tie it at 10 apiece. It would remain within three points the rest of the way, with the teams trading points. A point for the Tigers was overturned and awarded to Florida after a challenge from Gators Head Coach Mary Wise initiated a review revealing no Florida player touched Bel Zimmerman’s attack on its way out of bounds. That point would prove to be the difference, as the Gators would go on to take the set 25-23.
Set three was another that would be competitive wire to wire. A Madison Scheer kill would put Auburn up 11-10, and the Tigers held on to the lead the rest of the way, winning their first set in the last 12, going all the way back to their game Nov. 3 against Arkansas, one that saw them lose in a reverse sweep.
The Tigers got out to their best start of the night in set four, leading 11-7 before a 3-0 Florida run brought the Gators back into it. Five lead changes and eight ties later, Florida found themselves up 20-19 following a Kennedy Martin kill. They kept the lead the rest of the way, taking the set 25-21 and winning the match 3 sets to 1.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Madison Scheer and Bel Zimmerman with 18 and 11 kills respectively. Senior Night honoree Bella Bell added seven of her own, hitting at stellar .400 on 15 attacks. Peyton Dunn led the way with a match-high 36 assists. Freshman Lauren Dreves continued to be effective both ways, recording eight kills and 11 digs, tied with senior Fallan Lanham for second on the team behind Alexis Dacosta’s 15. The Tigers played well enough to stay in it, but ultimately could not quite match the Gators. Thirteen service errors, many untimely, helped keep the Gators alive when Auburn seemed to be in control.
Florida’s Kennedy Martin was a nightmare for the Auburn defense. She had 31 kills hitting .333. Jaela Auguste added 10 kills on just 18 attacks with one error, good for a .500 hitting percentage. Isabel Martin finished off the three-headed Gator attack, dropping a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs. Elli McKissock led the way for the Gators’ defense with 31 digs, more than double anyone else on the court.
Auburn came into the night feeling like a win was necessary for a shot to make the NCAA Tournament. With two games left, the opportunities to find a path there have worn thin. The Tigers’ next match will be on the road in Norman, Oklahoma, on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 5:00 p.m. on the SEC Network.
