Sept. 17, 2006
ATHENS, Ga. -
The Auburn University volleyball team played in its second-consecutive five-game match as the Tigers defeated Goergia, 3-2 (30-32, 30-25, 30-23, 27-30, 20-18) on Sunday at the Ramsey Center in Athens. The victory moves the Tigers to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the SEC.
Sophomore Jessica Glover led AU with career-highs of 26 kills and 20 digs. Junior Rachel Shanks added 20 kills and 18 digs, while junior Jelena Sekulic had career highs in kills (16) and digs (19). Sophomore Joanna Pappas came up with a career-highs in digs (19) and assists (66).
"I am so proud of how this team earned a win," head coach Laura Farina said. "It is difficult to win a match on the road in the SEC, and this team showed a lot of courage."
In game one, the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead and moved it to 10-4 before Auburn called a timeout. The Tigers came back and answered with three-straight points and went on a 5-1 run to narrow the gap. Auburn continued to rally, finally tying the game at 28, and took its first lead of the game at 30-29. Georgia answered back with three-straight points and AU dropped game one, 32-30. The Tigers committed six service errors, while Glover led the squad with six kills and seven digs in the frame.
The Tigers had an early 5-3 lead, but UGA came back with a 9-1 run for a 12-6 advantage. Auburn clawed back into the game with a 6-1 run to make the score 16-14, before tying it at 17 and taking the lead at 18-17. Auburn never relinquished that advantage, leading by as many as six, and Jessica Glover's kill gave AU a 30-23 win in game two. Sekulic led Auburn with five kills in the game.
Auburn used a 12-2 run early in game three to take a 15-6 advantage. After Georgia cut it to 17-13, AU called timeout and scored four-straight points to take control of the game. The Tigers held the `Dawgs at bay the rest of the way, and took game three, 30-23. Glover led the way with five kills, while the team served up six aces in the frame.
AU took an 8-5 lead in game four, and jumped ahead to a 16-9 advantage to take hold of the frame. Georgia cut the lead to two (16-14), before a Sekulic kill ended the rally. From there, Auburn won four-straight points for a 20-14 lead. Georgia came back again, rallying to tie the game at 20. The Bulldogs took the lead at 23-22, but the Tigers answered with back-to-back points. Tied at 27, Georgia reeled off three straight points to send it to a fifth game.
Game five was a battle between the two teams that featured 15 ties. Auburn, however, won the game's final three points capped off by a kill by Whitney Jacob, to win 20-18.
The Tigers will finish up their streak of six-straight road matches In Gainsville, Fla., for a match-up against the No. 6 Florida Gators on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. CT.