Sept. 20, 2006
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -
The Auburn University volleyball team fell to #10 Florida, 3-0 (30-19, 30-21, 30-15) on Wednesday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville. The loss drops the Tigers to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in the SEC, while the Gators moved to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.
Junior Rachel Shanks led AU with 10 kills and adding six digs, sophomore Jessica Glover led Auburn with 13 digs and chipping in eight kills and sophomore Joanna Pappas had 27 assists.
"We didn't manage the game well tonight," head coach Laura Farina said. "We will bounce back and be ready for Alabama on Friday."
In game one, the Gators jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead. The Tigers would never get closer than three (9-6), as UF built their lead to as many as 11 three different times. Auburn hit -.057 in the frame, while Florida hit .353 as AU was led by Shanks with four kills.
The Tigers grabbed their first lead of the match as they notched the first two points of game two. Auburn would push their lead to as many as three (10-7), but the Gators came back to tie it at 13. Florida grabbed the lead at 15-14 and never looked back. A 5-0 run moved UF's lead to 25-17, and the Gators went on to take the game, 30-21. Shanks one again led Auburn with four kills in the frame.
Game three belonged to the Gators, as Florida put together an 8-2 run to start the frame. Auburn answered back with three-straight points, but that was as close as the Tigers would come. Florida went on to win game three, 30-15.
The Tigers will be at home for a match up against in-state rival Alabama on Friday, Sept. 22 in Beard Eaves Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m. CT. The first 250 fans will receive a "Beat `Bama" t-shirt as a part of All Auburn, All Orange Night. Fans are encouraged to fill the Coliseum with orange.