Sept. 25, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - Freshman Sarah Bullock recorded a career-best 16 kills, but it was not enough as the Auburn volleyball team (9-5, 1-2 SEC) fell 3-0 (22-25, 20-25, 24-26) to LSU Friday night. Despite the loss, the Tigers battled LSU (8-4, 2-1 SEC) in front of 1,215 people, the largest crowd ever at the Student Activities Center.
"Our crowd was phenomenal and they were very encouraging throughout the match," Wade Benson, head volleyball coach, said. "The team was in it every set to win and I think we just gave out at the end. It is a learning situation and we'll get through and get better next weekend."
Other offensive leaders for Auburn were juniors Morgan Johns and Jonelle Wallace. Johns tallied 11 kills and finished with a .562 attack percentage, while Wallace recorded six kills with a .500 attack percentage. Junior libero Liz Crouch had a game-high 13 digs.
For LSU, Brittnee Cooper and Marina Skender finished with 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Setter Sam Dabbs dished out 37 assists and Lauren Waclawczyk had 11 digs.
LSU jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in set one, but a 5-0 Auburn run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Kelly Fidero, gave AU the one-point advantage. Down by one at 14-13, LSU pushed three points to gain the lead, 16-14. Auburn came within a point at 22-21 on a kill from Bullock, but LSU pulled away with the 25-22 win.
The two teams kept things tight throughout the beginning of the second set, seeing seven ties up to the 10-10 mark. Kills from Bullock and Johns put the Tigers up 12-10, but LSU put together a 3-0 run at the 15-14 mark to take the 17-15 advantage. LSU closed out the set with another big run and took the set, 25-20.
Down a point in the early parts of the third set, LSU pulled ahead 10-7 with the help of a four-point run. Auburn fought back with a rally of its own, highlighted by a pair of service aces from Crouch to take the 13-11 lead. The Tigers held the slim advantage throughout most of the set, facing set point at 24-22. LSU, however, battled back and came through with a 4-0 push to win the match 26-24.
Up next for Auburn is a pair of home conference matches, beginning with a match against Ole Miss at 6 p.m., Oct. 2. The Tigers conclude the weekend with a 1:30 p.m. match against Arkansas on Oct. 4.