Sept. 2, 2006
AUBURN, Ala. -
The Auburn University volleyball team notched a thrilling five set victory over Virginia Tech in the squad's first match on Saturday, 30-28, 26-30, 25-30, 30-27, 15-7. In the second match, the Tigers fell to No. 16 Purdue, 3-0, 30-23, 30-24, 30-28. With the results, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Auburn moved to 4-3 overall, while Purdue improved to 7-0 and took home the tournament title.
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In the match against Virginia Tech, junior Rachel Shanks led the Tigers with her fourth double-double of the season by blasting a career-high 25 kills to go with 19 digs. Sophomore Jessica Glover and Joanna Pappas also recorded double-doubles. Glover set career-bests in kills (18) and digs (17), while Pappas set career-highs in assists (62) and digs (13).
After winning the opening game, AU dropped the following two sets. In game four, the Tigers took the lead at 15-14 and upped that margin to as many as five before the Hokies tied it at 22. Auburn regained the lead, but found Tech evening the score at 27. The Tigers then finished off the next three points to take game four.
The score was tied at three in game five, but the Tigers dominated the rest of the way by polishing the game off with a 12-4 run to end the match, 15-7.
In the match against Purdue, Shanks once again led the Tigers with 19 kills while chipping in nine digs. Jelena Sekulic had 14 digs to pace Auburn and Glover added 14 kills.
Riding momentum from the win over the Hokies, AU jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the first, but the Boilermakers battled back to an 8-8 tie and took the lead on the next point. This time the Tigers came back to take a 16-15 lead, but that would be the final lead for AU in the first frame as Purdue pulled away for the 30-23 win.
Purdue dominated game two, never allowing the Tigers any closer than a 4-4 tie and took the 30-24 win.
Game three started out well for AU as the squad held the lead until the Boilermakers tied it at 10. Purdue then took control and led by as many as seven before Auburn cut it to 28-27. Trailing 29-27 powered home a kill bringing the Tigers within one, but Purdue took the next point and the match.
"This was a great tournament to showcase some good volleyball," head coach Laura Farina said. "For us, Rachel (Shanks) had a great tournament and played a lot of large roles for us to allow other players to be successful."
The Auburn/Mizuno Challenge All-Tournament consisted of Rachel Shanks (Auburn) Denita Marlau (Purdue), Sydney Donahue (Arizona State), Nicole Morton (Arizona State) and Sara Minoz. The tournament MVP was Kelli Miller.
Auburn will next be in action on Tuesday, Sept. 5 as the Tigers take on Georgia State at 6 p.m. at the Student Activities Center.